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How to dispose of your Christmas tree in the Philadelphia region

Here's a list of the places you can drop off your Christmas tree.

Is a real Christmas tree or an artificial one better for the environment? (Dreamstime)
Is a real Christmas tree or an artificial one better for the environment? (Dreamstime)Read moreTNS
    by Bethany Ao
    Published 

It's the day after Christmas. All the presents are unwrapped and you're faced with the tedious task of taking down all those ornaments and putting them away. And, of course, disposing of the tree. You can always throw it out on the curb with the rest of your trash and it will be picked up, but if you're trying to be more ecofriendly, here's what you can do:

Philadelphia

First things first: You do not want to burn your Christmas tree. It might be tempting, but the sap will smell extremely unpleasant and you'll coat your chimney with creosote, a type of tar that can irritate your nose and throat, or, worse, set your house on fire.

In Philadelphia, the city will collect Christmas trees for recycling  Jan. 2 through Jan. 13. From Monday to Saturday, you can drop off your tree at any sanitation convenience center, open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the following locations:

  1. 3901 N. Delaware Ave.

  2. 5100 Grays Ave.

  3. 2601 W. Glenwood Ave.

  4. 3033 S. 63rd St.

  5. Domino Lane and Umbria Street

  6. State Road and Ashburner Street

Additional Saturday drop-off locations are available  from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 6 and Jan. 13 at:

  1. 66th Street and Haverford Avenue

  2. 54th Street and Woodbine Avenue

  3. 43rd Street and Powelton Avenue

  4. 72nd Street and Buist Avenue

  5. Broad and Christian Streets

  6. 20th and Hartranft Streets

  7. 15th and Bigler Streets

  8. Corinthian and Poplar Streets

  9. American and Thompson Streets

  10. Seminole Street and Gravers Lane

  11. Cathedral Road and Ridge Avenue

  12. Washington Lane and Ardleigh Street

  13. Lowber Avenue and Upsal Street

  14. Fisher and Ogontz Avenues

  15. Fifth Street and Chelten Avenue

  16. Foulkrod Street and Castor Avenue

  17. Pennway Street and Cottman Avenue (Jardel Recreation Center)

  18. Battersby and St. Vincent Streets (Mayfair Community Center)

  19. Ridgeway Street and Rockwell Avenue (Fox Chase Recreation Center)

  20. Bustleton and Solly Avenues (Pelbano Recreation Center)

  21. Norcom and Comly Roads (Palmer Playground)

  22. Torresdale and Cottman Avenues (Russo Park)

  23. Wayne Avenue and Logan Street

All trees have to be untied and free of decorations. For those  who cannot get to a recycling spot, placing your tree curbside will allow it to be collected on the same day as trash.

There are also civic organizations and neighborhood associations that will collect trees on  Jan. 6 and Jan. 7. For a list of them, go to  philadelphiastreets.com/holiday.

Christmas tree collection days vary from town to town outside Philadelphia. The towns often take the trees to county recycling centers, where they are made into mulch. If you call your township or borough, it will be able to tell you when and where you can drop off your tree.

Bucks County

  1. Bensalem: 215-633-3733

  2. Bristol: 215-785-0501

  3. Middletown: 610-565-2700

  4. Northampton: 800-432-1616

  5. Falls: 215-788-5555

Burlington County

  1. Evesham: 856-983-2798

  2. Mount Laurel: 609-267-6889

  3. Willingboro: 609-877-2200

  4. Pemberton:  609-499-1001, Ext. 266

  5. Medford: 609-654-6791, Ext. 322

Camden County

  1. Camden: 856-757-7034

  2. Cherry Hill: 856-424-4422

  3. Sicklerville: 856-784-9308

  4. Pennsauken:  856-665-8787

  5. Winslow: 609-567-0700, Ext. 9001

Delaware County

  1. Upper Darby: 610-734-7635

  2. Haverford: 610-446-1000, Ext. 2262

  3. Delaware: 610-892-9627

  4. Chester: 610-447-7742

  5. Radnor: 610-688-5600, Ext. 155

 Gloucester County

  1. Gloucester: 856-478-6045

  2. Washington: 908-689-7204

  3. Monroe: 856-629-4444

  4. Deptford: 856-228-4719

  5. Glassboro: 856-881-8422

Montgomery County

  1. Lower Merion: 610-667-1952

  2. Abington: 267-536-1037

  3. Cheltenham: 215-635-4600

  4. Norristown: 800-432-1616

  5. Upper Merion: 610-265-2606