Parker Launches Annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program for Residents

The Town of Parker opened its annual Christmas tree recycling program on December 25, and it will operate through January 25 at the west paved Salisbury Park ballfields field 1 parking lot. The program is limited to Parker residents and accepts both green and flocked real trees provided they are cleared of non-organic attachments.

Before dropping off trees, residents must remove plastic tarps, tree stands, nails, ornaments, lights, garland and tinsel. The town will not accept artificial trees, garland or wreaths with wire backing. Additional yard waste and tree branches are not permitted and no commercial tree lot disposal will be allowed. Drop off is permitted only during park hours, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the town asks residents not to illegally dump other items at the site.

Collected trees are chipped into mulch by the Town of Parker Forestry Division, which manages the program as one of several municipal efforts to encourage reduction, reuse and recycling. Beginning December 30, mulch has typically been made available on site next to the drop off pile and is provided at no charge to Parker residents. Remaining mulch from the program will be used throughout the town and will not be discarded in a landfill.

Local residents stand to benefit directly from the program. Free mulch provides a resource for home landscaping and municipal projects, while keeping trees out of garbage containers helps extend the life of local landfills and returns material to productive use. The town emphasized that proper preparation of trees at drop off is essential to ensure they can be processed efficiently into mulch for household and town use.

Practical reminders for participants include observing the posted hours, removing all prohibited items before arrival, and avoiding bringing nonqualifying yard waste or commercial loads. The Forestry Division manages collection and chipping operations on site, and the town reiterated that trees placed in household garbage containers or left at the park outside accepted hours will not be processed.

For Parker residents, the program is a seasonal chance to reduce waste, access free landscaping material and support municipal sustainability efforts. Following the removal guidelines and site rules ensures the program can continue to serve the community and keeps usable organic material out of local landfills.