Christmas tree disposal options

Now that Christmas is over, it’s time to dispose of the tree. There are several ways to do so: Drop it off Christmas trees under 6 feet and 3 inches in diameter can be taken to one of Spokane County’s transfer stations or the Waste to Energy Facility to be made into compost. The transfer stations are located at 3941 N. Sullivan Rd. and 22123 Elk-Chattaroy Rd.; the Waste to Energy plant is located at 2900 S. Geiger Blvd. Trees must have all the decorations removed. In Coeur d’Alene, drop off trees at the Solid Waste Transfer Station at 3650 N. Ramsey Road. Trees must be separate from garbage so they can be recycled. Earthworks Recycling Inc. will take trees during regular business hours for a $5 per-tree charge. The tree will be recycled with the company’s other wood waste. Earthworks is located at 1904 E. Broadway. Call (509) 534-1638 for information. Abco Wood Recycling will provide free recycling at locations in Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls, Sandpoint and Spokane, through Jan. 5. The company says the recycling sites are manned by nonprofit organizations that may request donations. For more information see www.spokanecleanair.org. Put it out with the trash In Spokane Valley, Waste Management will pick up trees under 6 feet tall. Customers should put trees in their green yard-waste carts or next to their normal garbage carts, said regional manager Steve Wulf. Customers who place their trees next to their garbage carts need to be sure to put out their green yard-waste carts, too, or else they’ll be charged for removing the tree, Wulf said. The yard-waste service picks up on the first service day in December, January and February, he said. City of Spokane garbage customers should cut up trees that are over 6 feet tall. The tree can be placed in or next to the garbage cart. Trees also can be cut up so that they fit into the Clean Green yard cart. Help a good cause Another way to dispose of your tree is through school and nonprofit fund-raisers. Ferris High School is raising money for the Senior All-Nighter with tree drop-off on Jan. 3, 4, 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $5 to drop a tree or $15 for pick-up. Call (509) 999-5186 to schedule a pick-up. In Spokane Valley, University High School will hold a fund-raiser for the instrumental music program on Jan. 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $5 for dropping off a tree and $10 for pick-ups. Schedule a pick-up at (509) 228-5307. Coeur d’Alene High School’s basketball team will be collecting trees on Jan. 10 in the school’s south parking lot. The fee is $2 per tree. The team also will pick up trees for $5; call (208) 704-4986 to schedule it. Lake City High’s football team is doing the same, on Jan. 5 or 12; trees can be dropped at the school for $2 or picked up for $5 by scheduling that service at (208) 664-1144.