‘Recycle’ Christmas trees and other holiday waste tips
Lee County offers residents the opportunity to recycle their clean, live Christmas trees into useable mulch mulch that is offered back to the community free of charge at five locations.
To participate, set your clean tree at the curb on your regular yard waste collection day. All lighting, decorations, tinsel and the stand must be removed. Once collected, the trees are processed into mulch or incorporated into compost.
Free mulch is available to Lee County residents at the following five locations:
* Bonita Springs: Imperial River Boat Ramp, 27551 South Tamiami Trail
* Lehigh Acres: Lehigh Acres Park, 1400 West Fifth St.
* North Fort Myers: North Fort Myers Park, 2000 North Recreation Park Way
* Pine Island: Near the wastewater treatment plant about five miles south of the four-way stop on the east side of Stringfellow Road
* South Fort Myers: Three Oaks Park, 18251 Three Oaks Parkway
These locations are not attended. Bring shovels and containers to load the mulch.
Artificial Christmas trees that are past their useful life should be placed in the garbage. If they are still useable, consider donating them to a local charity. They should never be placed in recycling.
Additional post-holiday tips:
Recycle all gift wrapping paper except paper with a metallic finish. Shipping boxes, glass bottles and jars, metal cans and plastic bottles also are recyclable. Each item should be free of food residue before being placed in the recycling bin. Paper plates, used napkins and plastic silverware are not recyclable and should go in the trash can.
Consider filling some of your shipping boxes with household items suitable for donation and deliver those to a local charity. It’s an easy way to keep those items in use within the community rather than adding additional trash to the system.
If your holiday tradition involves deep-fried turkey, disposing of the leftover cooking oil does not have to be a challenge. At no charge, residents may deliver liquid cooking oils to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 6441 Topaz Court. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of each month. Please transport used oils or grease in sealed, unbreakable, leak-proof containers. This service is available year-round.
Lee County Solid Waste seeks to ensure the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of Lee County by providing a responsible and economical solid waste management system. The agency, a division of the Lee County Public Utilities Department, has established a track record of success. Including energy recovered from the agency’s Waste to Energy Facility, Lee County is on track to meet Florida’s 75 percent recycling goal by 2020. Learn more at leegov.com/solidwaste.