South Jacksonville Offers Curbside Christmas Tree Recycling This Week

South Jacksonville village officials opened a temporary Christmas tree recycling service on Dec. 30, allowing village residents to place live trees at the curb for collection through Friday, Jan. 2. The village street department will pick up trees placed on the curb during that window, provided they are free of lights, tinsel and other decorations; trees in plastic bags will not be collected.

Residents of nearby Jacksonville should note that the city is operating a separate curbside collection the following week, running Jan. 5-9. City residents are asked to place trees at the curb by 8 a.m. on the scheduled days for pickup. These staggered schedules reflect separate municipal services for village and city jurisdictions and require residents to follow the instructions for the jurisdiction where they live.

For those who prefer to transport yard waste themselves, the Morgan County brush drop-off site at 202 W. Oak St., behind the Morgan County Animal Shelter, is open to receive live Christmas trees as well as brush, branches, grass and leaves. The drop-off site provides an alternative for residents who miss curbside windows or who have larger quantities of material.

The short, organized collection windows aim to help local crews manage seasonal waste efficiently while keeping streets clear and reducing the likelihood of improper disposal. Removing lights and decorations before placing trees at the curb speeds handling and helps protect street department equipment. City and village residents should take care to follow the different schedules and rules so crews can collect material safely and on time.

These services give Morgan County households multiple options to dispose of live trees responsibly in the first weeks of January. Village residents who placed trees curbside during South Jacksonville’s Dec. 30-Jan. 2 pickup should expect collection by the village street department, while Jacksonville city residents should plan to have trees at the curb by 8 a.m. between Jan. 5 and Jan. 9 if they wish to use the city’s curbside service. The brush drop-off at 202 W. Oak St. remains available for those who prefer to self-deliver yard waste.