Natural Christmas trees receive new purpose with recycling

Northeast News
January 1, 2014

Christmas is now over and many residents are left with a natural tree they must discard. Instead of simply throwing away the tree, the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) is encouraging residents to give their tree a second life by recycling.

Holiday trees and greenery are banned from Missouri landfills and are discouraged from being deposited into Kansas landfills.

Area communities offer residents a number of ways to recycle trees and greenery that not only divert material from landfills, but also create a useful resource. Recycled trees can be used for a variety of purposes, including trail surfaces, erosion control, landscaping and fish habitat in local lakes.

“Everyone in our region has access to natural holiday tree and greenery recycling,” said Matt Riggs, outreach coordinator for the MARC Solid Waste Management District. “It’s very important that residents remove all lights, decorations, plastic bags and stands from the trees and remove wire, hooks and frames from the greenery before recycling them.”

Area pick-up services include:

• Kansas City, Mo. – Nature’s Rubbish, 816-444-4050; Missouri residents only

• Belton – Lawn-Corps Curbside Recycling, 816-761-3046; Missouri residents only

• Grandview – Compost Connection Inc., 816-761-8300; Missouri residents only

• North Kansas City – 816-274-6004; North Kansas City residents only

Area drop-off locations include:

• Gladstone – Regional Brush & Yard Waste Recycle Facility, 4000 NE 76th St., Gladstone, MO, 816-436-5442

Kansas City, Mo. (South) – Suburban Lawn and Garden Yard Waste Recycling Center, 139th & Wyandotte, Kansas City, MO, 816-941-2438

Kansas City, Mo. (East) – Missouri Organic Recycling, Inc., 7700 E. U.S. 40, Kansas City, MO, 816-483-0908.

Kansas City, Mo. (Southeast) – City of Kansas City, Mo., Leaves & Brush, 10301 Raytown Road, Kansas City, MO, 816-513-1313

Kansas City, Mo. (East Bottoms) – City of Kansas City, Mo., Leaves & Brush, 1815 N. Chouteau Trafficway, Kansas City, MO, 816-513-1313

Kansas City, Mo. (North) – City of Kansas City, Mo., Leaves & Brush, 11660 N. Main St., Kansas City, MO, 816-513-1313