Howard County Residents Can Recycle Live Christmas Trees Through Merry Mulch Program

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Residents can recycle their live Christmas trees again this year through the county's Merry Mulch program.

Since 1993, the Merry Mulch program has kept thousands of trees out of the landfill. All live trees dropped off for the Merry Mulch program are taken to the composting facility at the Alpha Ridge Landfill to be recycled into compost and mulch.

Trees can be dropped off at participating hardware stores, parks and at the landfill from Dec. 26-Jan. 18. Holiday trees can be recycled seven days a week during regular business hours at the drop-off sites listed below. One exception is at the Alpha Ridge Landfill, which is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.:

• Clarksville: Kendall Hardware, 12260 Clarksville Pike
• Columbia: Cedar Lane Park, 5081 Cedar Lane
• Elkridge: Rockburn Branch Park (East), 5400 Landing Road
• Ellicott City: Old Circuit Court parking lot on upper Court House Drive (just past Ellicott Mills Drive, on the right)
• Highland: Schooley Mill Park, 12975 Hall Shop Road
• Marriottsville: Alpha Ridge Landfill Wood Waste Area, 2350 Marriottsville Road (open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
• Savage: Savage Park, 8400 Fair Street
• Woodbine: Western Regional Park, 14800 Carrs Mill Road

Howard County residents with curbside yard trim collection also can set their holiday trees out on their yard trim day for collection through Jan. 17. Trees will not be picked up on trash collection days during this time for residents with yard trim collection. All decorations, including tinsel, garland, ornaments, lights, tree stands, plastic bags, etc., must be removed. Trees must be cut into less than four-foot lengths and tied; they should not be bagged. Each bundle must also weigh less than 40 pounds. Residents are reminded to set their tree out the night before their collection day. as they will be picked up on a homeowner's collection day between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. by the yard trim truck.

Residents are reminded that artificial trees cannot be placed in the blue carts for curbside recycling. Artificial holiday trees and wreaths with metal components can be recycled year-round in the scrap metal area at the Alpha Ridge Landfill Residents’ Convenience Center.