CHICAGO — The Chicago Park District and the Department of Streets and Sanitation will co-sponsor a free Christmas tree recycling service from Jan. 4-18 at 23 drop-off locations throughout the city.
"Christmas tree recycling is an easy and an environmentally friendly alternative for residents to dispose of their trees," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. "Each year through the Christmas tree recycling program, we are able to divert thousands of Christmas trees away from landfills for reuse in our community."
Live Christmas trees stripped of ornaments, lights and other decorations can be dropped off at the Park District's tree corrals, where forestry crews will chip the trees into free mulch for residents. Chicagoans can pick up free mulch at any drop-off location beginning Jan. 10, though supplies will be limited.
Last year, Chicagoans recycled more than 16,800 trees, 2,500 more than in January 2012, according to the Park District.
Tree Recycling Locations:
Bessemer Park, 8930 S. Muskegon Ave.
Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell St.
Forestry Site, 900 E. 103rd St.
Garfield Park, 100 N. Central Park Ave.
Grant Park, 900 S. Columbus Drive
Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1369 N. Sacramento Ave.
Jackson Park, 6300 S. Cornell Ave.
Kennedy Park, 2427 W. 113th St.
Kelvyn Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Lake Meadows Park, 3117 S. Rhodes Ave
Lincoln Park, Cannon Drive at Fullerton Ave. (Parking lot east of Cannon Dr.)
Margate Park, 4921 N. Marine Drive
Marquette Park, 6700 S. Kedzie Ave.
McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Road
Mount Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th St.
North Park Village, 5801 N. Pulaski Road
Norwood Park, 5801 N. Natoma Ave.
Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.
Riis Park, 6201 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Rowan Park, 11546 S. Avenue L
Sheridan Park, 910 S. Aberdeen St.
Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave.
Wentworth Park, 5701 S. Narragansett Ave.
