Philadelphia Announces Holiday Trash Schedule and Tree Recycling

PHILADELPHIA, PA — As the holiday season concludes, Philadelphia sanitation officials are reminding residents about important changes to trash and recycling collection schedules. The city will observe a holiday closure on January 1, 2024, resulting in no trash or recycling collections that day. Residents with normal collection days on Thursday or Friday are advised to place their materials out one day later than usual.

During the holiday week, households that typically benefit from twice-weekly collections will only receive one pickup. Trash and recycling will be collected on the first scheduled day only. Crystal Jacobs Shipman, the Sanitation Commissioner, emphasized that the post-holiday period is one of the busiest times for the city’s waste management system. She encouraged residents to recycle properly to reduce costs and prevent excess materials from ending up in landfills.

Christmas Tree Recycling Program Details

Philadelphia’s annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program is set to run from January 5 through January 17, 2024. Now in its 37th year, the program offers residents an environmentally friendly alternative to discarding live trees as regular trash. Residents can drop off undecorated, untied live trees at any of the city’s six Sanitation Convenience Centers from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

The locations for drop-off include:
– 3033 South 63rd Street
– 2601 West Glenwood Avenue
– Domino Lane and Umbria Street
– 3901 North Delaware Avenue
– State Road and Ashburner Street
– 5100 Grays Avenue

Additionally, residents can bring their trees to 15 designated drop-off locations on the Saturdays of January 10 and January 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Officials remind residents that all trees must be completely free of decorations and ties; trees with ornaments, lights, or tinsel cannot be processed for recycling. This program is available solely to residents receiving city-collected trash and recycling services, while vendors must manage the disposal of discarded trees independently.

Recycling Tips and Waste Reduction

Residents who are unable to take part in the recycling program can place their trees out as trash on their regular collection day. Officials also encouraged creative reuse of trees; for example, small pine limbs and needles can serve as winter mulch for delicate plants, and trees can be composted. Burning trees indoors is not recommended due to the risk of sap causing odors and creosote buildup in chimneys, which can heighten fire hazards.

With holiday celebrations typically generating increased waste, residents are reminded to recycle common items such as non-metallic wrapping paper, glass bottles, aluminum cans, paper bags, catalogs, and calendars. Reusing items like gift bags, ribbons, bows, newspapers, and plastic bags can further minimize waste. Reducing excess packaging throughout the year helps keep materials out of landfills.

For more details on proper holiday recycling practices, residents can refer to the city’s recycling guide.