West U, Bellaire to offer Christmas ‘tree-cycling’

Both West University Place and Bellaire are offering responsible ways to recycle Christmas trees so they don’t end up in the landfill — and West U is sponsoring a holiday light recycling program, as well.

West University

West U is conducting curbside collection of Christmas trees for recycling through Jan. 11.

Trees must be bare — free of bulbs, stands and decorations — and cannot be flocked. Any trees left for collection after Jan. 11 will be landfilled. For more, visit westutx.gov/specialevents and click on the tree recycling tab.

For the third year, West U is also collecting unwanted or broken holiday lights that will be provided to the Houston Zoo for a program that funds wildlife preservation. The idea came from Mayor Pro Tem Mardi Turner, a longtime zoo docent.

The lights may be deposited in a bin at the Public Works Department, 3826 Amherst St., from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays through Jan. 10.

Only string lights are accepted — no light hooks, extension cords or flood lights.

For more, call public works at 713-662-5839, or to learn about the zoo program, visit houstonzoo.org/blog/recycle-holiday-lights-to-save-wildlife.

Bellaire

In Bellaire, trees will be picked up curbside for recycling on Jan. 2 and 3 or may be dropped off in a designated and marked area  at the public works yard at Edith Street and Baldwin Avenue through Jan. 15. All decorations and tree stands must be removed, and no flocked trees are accepted.

Any trees left curbside outside the designated dates, including during normal brush and limb waste collection days, will be landfilled.

For additional information, call Bellaire public works at 713-662-8150.