What to do with the Christmas tree

Updated 12-30-2013 8:43pm

So - you are done with Christmas and want to get it out of your house?

Lake Forest Park residents

Free Storm Debris and Christmas Tree Recycling at City Hall on January 11, 2014 from  9:00am - 2:00pm

Republic Services (aka Allied Waste) will be accepting Christmas trees and storm debris for free recycling from Lake Forest Park residents on Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 9:00am- 2:00pm at the City Hall lower parking lot.

The Lake Forest Park Youth Council will also be present helping to support the free event and selling hot chocolate to raise money for the Lake Forest Park Police Department Domestic Violence Safe Harbor Fund. Join them to enjoy some free recycling and hot chocolate on a winter day!

Reminders: Bring bare trees. Remove all tinsel, lights and ornaments. No flocked trees will be accepted. Secure your loads. Bring proof of address in the form of a valid photo ID. Only passenger vehicles can enter lower City Hall parking lot.

How to get to recycling station at City Hall

Shoreline residents

Four options for Shoreline residents: A one-day recycling event on Saturday, January 4, 2014; curbside pick-up of real, non-flocked trees for CleanScapes yard debris subscribers; curbside pick-up for artificial or flocked trees for CleanScapes garbage customers; take any type of tree to the Transfer Station.

This year the City will host a one day Christmas Tree Recycling Event with extended hours of collection on Saturday, January 4 to help Shoreline residents recycle their holiday trees. Remove all hooks, ornaments, tinsel, and tree stands. Do not bring flocked, artificial or garden trees, branches, wreaths, or swags.


Saturday, January 4, 2014, 8:00am – 4:00pm, Meridian Park Elementary School parking lot, 17077 Meridian Ave N, Shoreline 98133.

Trees will be recycled by CleanScapes, but they won’t be chipped on-site at the event.

If there is snow or ice on the road on event day, January 4, call 206-801-2450 for a recorded message of the event’s status.

If the event is cancelled or you cannot make it to the event, other options for disposal of holiday trees in Shoreline include:

1. If you have CleanScapes yard debris collection, recycle your tree curbside. Cut your tree into 4 foot lengths, and place them next to your yard debris container at the curb for collection at no cost. No flocked, tinseled, or artificial trees are accepted; and trees without a yard debris cart next to them will not be collected.
2. If you have a flocked, tinseled or an artificial tree, and you have CleanScapes curbside garbage collection, cut it to fit inside your garbage cart for free collection. If the tree is taller than 4 feet, cut it into 4 ft. sections, and put them next to your garbage cart for a collection cost of $4.03.
3. Recycle your tree for a cost at the Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station at 2300 N 165 St. Call 206-477-4466 for information on rates.

For Shoreline questions, contact Tina Kendall, Environmental Programs Assistant, at 206-801-2450.

Selected neighborhoods

Local Boy Scout troops will pick up trees curbside in selected neighborhoods in Shoreline on Saturday, January 4, 2014. If your neighborhood is included, you will have already found an envelope rubber-banded to your doorknob. The Scouts pick up trees starting at 7:30am and ending by 2pm on Saturday, for a suggested minimum donation of $5 for a small tree.

Boy Scout Troops 324 and 167 are covering NE Shoreline (and possibly parts of Lake Forest Park). Boy Scout Troop 325, Shoreline, is covering Richmond Highlands, Innis Arden, Highland Terrace and the south part of Hillwood neighborhood, working with Girl Scout Troop #41161.

Yet another option for Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, North Seattle

If you cannot take advantage of the above events, you can recycle Christmas trees at businesses such as Pacific Topsoils in North Seattle (1212 N 107th St, Seattle) and Kenmore (7500 NE 175th St, Kenmore) for $3. No flocked trees accepted.