Christmas tree recycling programs open drop-off sites

Pittsburgh and Allegheny County officials are encouraging residents not to let their live Christmas trees end up in a landfill after the holidays.

Both the city and the county launched their annual recycling programs on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh’s program allows people to drop off trees at one of 11 drop-off sites throughout the city, which will be open through Jan. 26.

The county’s program offers drop-off spots at nine county parks from 8 a.m. until dusk daily through Jan. 14.

Trees collected through both programs will be chipped into mulch. The city will offer the mulch to the public for free in the spring, while the county will use its mulch for various projects in the parks.

Pittsburgh last year collected more than 1,600 trees through the recycling program, city officials said. Allegheny County’s program collected and recycled over 3,000 trees.

In the city’s program, trees can be dropped off for recycling at these locations:

• Sue Murray Swimming Pool parking lot 301 on Stockton Avenue in Allegheny Center
• Jack Stack Swimming Pool on Brighton Woods Road in Brighton Heights
• Brookline Recreation Center at 1400 Oakridge Street in Brookline
• Department of Public Works 3rd Division at 40 Melanchton Street in Hazelwood
• Pittsburgh Zoo at 7370 Baker Street in Highland Park
• Department of Public Works 2nd Division at 6814 Hamilton Avenue in Homewood North
• Department of Public Works 1st Division at 300 Kilbuck Road in Perry North/Observatory Hill
• South Side Riverfront Park’s lower parking lot in South Side
• Prospect Drive Roundabout in Schenley Park in Squirrel Hill South
• Sheraden Park’s parking lot on Surban Street in Sheraden
• Department of Public Works 5th Division at 1330 Hassler Street in West End

Allegheny County sites are:

• Boyce Park Soccer Fields parking lot
• Deer Lakes Park Veterans Shelter parking lot
• Harrison Hills Park parking lot at Chipmunk Drive & Cottontail Drive
• Hartwood Acres Park Middle Road parking lot
• North Park Swimming Pool parking lot
• Round Hill Park Alfalfa Shelter parking lot
• Settlers Cabin Park Wave Pool parking lot
• South Park Wave Pool parking lot
• White Oak Park Wedding Garden parking lot

Westmoreland County also is opening 15 tree recycling drop-off locations this season. The county also is recycling broken or unwanted Christmas string lights.