PASADENA : City to Pick Up Discarded Trees

In the game of Christmas-tree chicken between the city and residents, the city admits it will blink first.

In previous years, the city picked up the trees for recycling into mulch. This year, the city wants residents to haul the trees off themselves to recycling centers, or chop them up to fit into the appropriate recycling bins.

The public isn’t buying it, with the result that hundreds of discarded Christmas trees still line the streets.

“I can tell from driving around the city there are a lot of Christmas trees at the curb,” said Barbara B. Cathey, Pasadena’s administrator for solid waste planning and operations.

The city changed its policy because it automated trash collection with small trucks that pick up special garbage cans. The automation replaces sanitation workers who could handle trees, Cathey said.

Curbside pick-up is now available for an additional $10 fee.

Cathey expresses little sympathy for residents who complain about the burden of hauling a tree to a pickup point. “How did they get the tree to their home? They should think about that as the way to get it to the drop-off,” Cathey said. “If they are worried about the mess, it can be wrapped in plastic bags.”

Drop-off locations are open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and Friday. Locations are Brookside Park, 360 N. Arroyo Blvd.; Allendale Park, 1130 S. Marengo Ave.; City Yard, 233 W. Mountain St.; Eaton Blanche Park, 3100 E. Del Mar Blvd.; Hamilton Park, 3680 Cartright St.; Robinson Park, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave.; and Washington Park, Washington Boulevard and El Molino Avenue.

But Cathey acknowledged that if trees remain on the curbs in coming weeks, the city will be forced to haul them away. Free.