ERIN NEGLEY | Staff WriterWhen the Christmas tree comes down, it can have a second life helping other plants.
Every year, thousands of trees in Lancaster County become mulch instead of going into a landfill.
Manheim Township staff transformed trees into more than 7 tons of mulch last year, says Michelle Hooper, administrative assistant and recycling coordinator. In spring, the mulch is spread throughout the township’s parks. Residents can pick up some for their own outdoor spaces for free, long after the holidays.
“We’re trying to keep as much out of the landfill as possible,” Hooper says, “And it creates another product for us to use in the township.”
Here’s when and where to send off your tree, courtesy of Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority. Remember to remove tinsel and ornaments.
For those living in municipalities not listed, please contact your municipal office for information.
Adamstown: Drop off at Community Pool on North Reading Road from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31.
Christiana: Drop off at Lions Park on North Bridge Street from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31.
Colerain Township: Drop off at Legion Memorial Park, Quarryville from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31.
Columbia: Drop off at Columbia Fire Company at the corner of 10th and Manor streets or the Columbia Borough Yard Waste Center on Blue Lane from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 13.
Denver: Drop off at borough lot at corner of North Eighth and Main streets between 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays from Dec. 26 to mid-January. Residents with a borough composting facility access card can drop off daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the facility.
Drumore Township: Drop off at Legion Memorial Park, Quarryville from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31.
Earl Township: Drop off at Maintenance Building, 125 E. Huyard Road from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31.
East Cocalico Township: Township residents can drop off behind the municipal building, 100 Hill Road, Denver. Follow signs. Do not place on the woody waste pile. Drop off daily from dawn to dusk from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31.
East Donegal Township: Curbside collection by contractor Jan. 9-10 on regular collection day.
East Drumore Township: Drop off at Legion Memorial Park, Quarryville from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31.
East Hempfield Township: Curbside collection by contractor during the week of Jan. 8-12 on regular collection day. Drop off at municipal building on Nissley Road until Jan. 31, daily from dawn to dusk.
East Lampeter Township: Contact your hauler for Christmas tree pickup service.
East Petersburg: For haulers to remove trees curbside on regular pickup days, register for a $5 tag at the borough office. Boy Scout Troop 33 also will remove trees curbside. Register for a tag (by donation) at the borough office. Scouts will take trees at East Petersburg Community Park parking lot, 6051 Pine St., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 6 (donations are requested).
Eden Township: Drop off at Legion Memorial Park at SECA Pool parking lot, Quarryville from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31.
Elizabeth Township: Drop off at municipal building on South View Drive from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31, daily, dawn to dusk.
Elizabethtown: Curbside collection by contractor on scheduled yard waste collection days.
Ephrata: Curbside collection by contractor in the weeks of Jan. 8 and Jan. 22 on regular collection day.
Lancaster city: Curbside collection by contractor on regular trash collection day from Jan. 8-19.
Lancaster Township: Curbside collection by contractor Saturday, Jan. 13. If you miss the free collection, buy red extra service tag for $4 and attach to tree. Also, township residents can drop off trees at the township yard waste facility from Dec. 26 to Jan. 13, dawn to dusk, only in the area marked with signs.
Lititz: Curbside collection by borough public works during the week of Jan. 8.
Little Britain Township: Drop off at the township park near the baseball field on Green Lane in Nottingham from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31.
Manheim: Curbside collection by contractor on Thursday, Jan. 4.
Manheim Township: Township residents can drop off trees at Manheim Township Compost Facility on Oregon Pike at no charge through Jan. 31. A compost card is required and can be found (for free) at the township office. There is a fee for trees dropped off later, $4 per car.
Manor Township: Drop off at Manor Township Community Park at corner of Charlestown and Millersville roads; Creswell Park, 3103 River Road; Washington Boro Park at corner of River Road and Route 999 and Greider Park, 306 Dickinson Ave. daily from Dec. 26 to Jan. 20 from dawn to dusk.
Marietta: Curbside collection by contractor on Thursday, Jan. 11.
Millersville: Curbside collection by contractor on Friday, Jan. 12.
Mountville: Curbside collection by contractor on Friday, Jan. 12.
Mount Joy: Curbside collection by contractor from Jan. 8-10 on regular collection day.
Mount Joy Township: Curbside collection by contractor on Saturday, Jan. 13.
New Holland: Curbside collection by contractor Thursday, Jan. 11.
Penn Township: Drop off at municipal building (in the orange fenced area), 97 N. Penryn Road, from Dec. 26 to Feb. 3.
Pequea Township: Drop off at Silver Mine Park in the roped-off area marked with sign in the first parking lot at the Route 324 (Marticville Road) entrance from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31, daily from dawn to dusk.
Providence Township: Drop off at municipal building on Mount Airy Road 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31.
Quarryville: Drop off at Legion Memorial Park at SECA Pool parking lot from Dec. 26-Jan. 31.
Rapho Township: Curbside collection by Penn Waste on Saturday, Jan. 20. Key fob holders can drop off at Mount Joy borough/East Donegal Township compost site, daily from dawn to dusk.
Salisbury Township: Drop off at municipal building on Old Philadelphia Pike throughout the year, daily from dawn to dusk.
Strasburg: Drop off at Strasburg Borough Public Works Department, 109 S. Jackson St., from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31.
Terre Hill: Drop off at the yard waste recycling facility, 426 Linden St., 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily throughout the year.
Upper Leacock Township: Drop off at maintenance building on Newport Road from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31, daily from dawn to dusk.
Warwick Township: Drop off at municipal building on Clay Road from Dec. 26 to Jan. 26, daily from dawn to dusk.
West Donegal Township: Curbside collection by contractor on Monday, Jan. 8 on the south side of Bainbridge Road and Tuesday, Jan. 9 for properties on the north side of Bainbridge Road.
West Earl Township: Curbside collection Monday, Jan. 8 and Tuesday, Jan. 9 for township residents in the West Earl Township trash/recycling program. The West Earl compost facility on Locust Street is open 24/7 every day of the year with a valid compost card.
West Hempfield Township: Drop off at Fairview Park on Fairview Road, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31. Buy a $5 red tag for curbside collection. Tree must be shorter than six feet or cut into pieces.
West Lampeter Township: Curbside collection the week of Jan. 8 on regular collection day.
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MARY ELLEN WRIGHT | Staff Writer
