Hundreds of unsold Christmas trees were piled high at the Miramar Landfill Tuesday for the start of San Diego's 50th annual Christmas tree recycling program.
This year, city officials expect to recycle more than 10,000 trees.
Derek Lam, a recycling specialist with the City of San Diego, said this year residents can have their trees picked up at their homes for recycling, but on one condition — they've got to chop them into pieces and placed in their green organic waste bins.
"If you do not want to chop your tree down, there are 16 drop-off sites throughout the city," Lam said.
Tree recycling at those facilities is free, Lam said, but residents need to remove all decorations and tinsel from their trees before bringing them. Also, only organic trees are eligible for recycling — artificial trees are not accepted.
"Recycling these trees helps us reduce the amount of waste going into the Miramar Landfill, and it helps the city meet its sustainability goals by converting the trees into high-quality mulch and compost that residents can pick up for free at the Miramar Landfill," City Council President Pro Tem Joe LaCava said in a statement.
City residents can also load up to 2 cubic yards of compost and mulch for free at the Miramar Greenery at 5180 Convoy St.
The Christmas Tree Recycling Program runs through Jan. 23.
Officials say the city has recycled approximately 52,153 tons of trees over the past 50 years, equating to 104.3 million pounds.
This year's drop-off locations are listed below:
— Carmel Valley Recreation Center, 3777 Townsgate Drive (lower parking lot);
— Encanto at Cielo Drive at Woodman Street;
— Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Drive;
— Memorial Recreation Center, 2902 Marcy Ave. in Logan Heights;
— SeaWorld Pacific Highway in Mission Bay;
— Ocean View Boulevard at 40th Street (north side) in Mountain View;
— 6350 College Grove Drive (Gloria Mesa parking lot) at Chollas Lake in Oak Park;
— Robb Field Recreation Center, 2525 Bacon St. in Ocean Beach;
— Montgomery Waller Community Park (lower parking lot, southeast corner of Palm Avenue and Beyer Boulevard) in Otay Mesa/Nestor;
— Kate Sessions Memorial Park, corner of Mount Soledad Road and Loring Street in Pacific Beach;
— Rancho Bernardo Recreation Center, 18448 West Bernardo Drive;
— Canyonside Recreation Center, 12350 Black Mountain Road in Rancho Penasquitos;
— San Diego State University, Parking lot 17 off Alvarado Road;
— Scripps Ranch Recreation Center, 11454 Cypress Drive;
— Tierrasanta Community Park pool parking lot, 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.;
— Standley Community Park parking lot in University City, 3585 Governor Drive.
