Recology collects more than 500 tons of Christmas trees in January cleanup

Recology crews collected more than 500 tons of discarded Christmas trees across San Francisco during the first two weeks of January, a seasonal surge that pushed crews into twice-daily routes and funneled large volumes of green waste into the city's composting stream. The work, which continued under the company’s collection window through January 16, kept crews busy as residents finished holiday takedowns delayed by late December rains.

Teams made two passes on neighborhood streets during the collection period to ensure curbside trees were picked up, Recology's operation showed. Customers were asked to set trees out with their green waste for pickup, and crews transported the trees to a composting facility where the wood and needles will be reused as compost rather than being landfilled. The operation demonstrates how a short, concentrated cleanup can turn bulky seasonal waste into a usable soil amendment for public and private landscaping projects.

The scale of the effort underlines both logistical challenges and environmental gains. More than 500 tons of material in roughly two weeks required coordinated routes, trucks and labor, along with staging and processing at the compost site. For city residents the result was less curbside clutter and reduced landfill pressure during a high-waste period. Many households delayed setting trees out because persistent rains in late December postponed outdoor cleanup, compressing the workload into January and prompting the twice-through approach by collection teams.

On the ground, crews moved steadily through neighborhoods, lifting whole trees from curbsides into compactor trucks and sorting green waste for processing. The work was physically intensive and time-sensitive; with a finite collection window and citywide demand, following the green waste instructions helped crews maintain route efficiency and ensured trees reached the composting facility in good condition.

The seasonal campaign also ties into broader municipal goals to divert organic waste from landfills and close nutrient loops. By turning Christmas trees into compost, the city and Recology reduce methane-producing landfill inputs while creating material that can improve soil health in parks, community gardens and street plantings.

The immediate takeaway for San Francisco residents is practical: set your tree out with green waste before the Jan. 16 cutoff so crews can collect it during the scheduled runs. Our two cents? Beat the rush and the mud by getting your tree to the curb early in the collection window, and make sure stands and large decorations are removed so the tree can be handled and processed quickly.