City, Zoo Cooperate to Boost Tree Recycling

This weekend Valley residents can begin recycling old Christmas trees at five collection sites.

And this year residents have an added incentive for recycling trees.

The city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Zoo will offer discounted admission to the zoo for each tree delivered to a city-sponsored site.

City-sponsored sites are Branford Park, 13300 Branford St., Arleta; Sunland Park, 8651 Foothill Blvd.; Balboa Sports Center, 17015 Burbank Blvd., Encino; and Chatsworth Park South, 22360 Devonshire St.

Most recycling sites will be open for collection from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends only, through Jan. 12.

In the Calabasas area, Los Angeles County is sponsoring a collection site at Gates Canyon Park, 25801 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

The site will accept trees this Saturday and Sunday and Jan. 4 and 5.

The Los Angeles Zoo coupon will be offered at all except the Calabasas site. The coupon is good for $2 off adult admission and $1 off a child’s admission, on as many as four tickets. The coupon is good until June.

Residents who live in areas that receive curbside green waste disposal service may leave their trees--cut up and placed inside collection bins--at the curb. Trees will be collected on the same day that trash and recyclables are normally picked up.

Los Angeles residents are warned that it is unlawful to leave trees at the curb outside of the green containers because they can become a fire hazard.

Flocked trees and those sprayed with fire retardant will be accepted, but they should be free of all ornaments, nails, metal stands and tinsel so that they can be used for compost or mulch.