Ex-Xmas Trees

Christmas has passed. New Years, Three Kings Day, and Twelfth Night (as in that never-ending song The Twelve Days of Christmas) are gone.

Now you may take down your Christmas Tree. That does not mean you throw it into the park or out on the road or put it out in your trash. If you don't have any use for it in your yard, you may recycle it through the Somerset County Park Commission:

The Somerset County Park Commission will be accepting natural Christmas trees for recycling from Sunday, December 26, 2011 through Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

Somerset County residents may bring their tree to Colonial Park, Parking Lot F, 156 Mettlers Road in East Millstone, Franklin Township or to North Branch Park, 355 Milltown Road in Bridgewater at the northern end of the parking lot near the lighted ball field. Both facilities will accept trees from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., seven days a week.

Each family is limited to only one tree that must be free of all ornaments, wires, netting, and tinsel. Only natural trees will be accepted. Wreaths and garland will not be accepted as these items cannot be recycled. Deliveries from groups or dealers will be rejected. Following these guidelines is necessary to maintain a manageable recycling program.

Trees will be chopped into wood chips which will be used throughout the park system to mulch plantings. Some chips/mulch will be made available to the public at drop-off sites at no cost.

For information, call the Somerset County Park Commission Horticulture Department as 732 873-2459, ext. 21 or NJ Relay at 711 for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment, Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 8:00am to 3:30pm.

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The HNJJ crew saw discarded Christmas trees in front yards on December 26th - how sad. Was Christmas that bad? [No, these weren't people who were going away on vacation.]

In the future get a live tree - balled in burlap - and plant it. A memory forever and a better use of your money.
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“Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.” - Larry Wilde

“The Christmas spirit that goes out with the dried-up Christmas tree is just as worthless” - Unk.