Rockford Sun

Rock River Disposal has announced the schedule for the collection of Christmas trees from City of Rockford residents. The collection will take place over a two-week period, from Monday, January 8, through Thursday, January 18, 2024. Residents are advised to place their non-bagged trees alongside their regular garbage on their scheduled pick-up day. It is important to note that the trees should be free of all ornaments, stands, lights, tinsel, and other decorative materials. Trees that exceed 4 feet in height must be cut in half.

In addition to Christmas trees, residents may also dispose of any remaining yard waste, provided it is properly containerized. The preferred method for yard waste disposal is using 2-ply biodegradable paper bags, rather than garbage cans. This is to prevent the freezing of yard waste in cans, which can hinder its removal. Loose branches and limbs should be bundled with string or twine, without the use of wire. The bundles should not exceed 4 feet in length and 2 feet in diameter. It is important to note that bags, cans, or bundles should not exceed 50 pounds in weight.

For those who prefer an alternative option, Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful (KNIB) has organized 12 regional Christmas tree collection sites. These sites will accept trees from January 1 through January 15, 2024. Similar to the collection by Rock River Disposal, the trees must be free of all ornaments, stands, lights, tinsel, and other decorative materials. However, it is important to note that wreaths with wire frames will not be accepted at these drop-off sites. Trees collected from within the City limits will be brought back to the City Yards at 523 S. Central Avenue, where they will be chipped on site. The mulch produced from the chipping process will be made available to the public later in the spring.

For a complete listing of all the drop-off sites, residents are encouraged to visit KNIB's website at [https://www.knib.org/christmas-tree-recycling](https://www.knib.org/christmas-tree-recycling).

Residents of the City of Rockford are reminded to take advantage of these collection and drop-off opportunities to ensure the proper disposal of their Christmas trees. By following the guidelines provided, residents can contribute to the recycling efforts and help keep the city clean and beautiful.

In anticipation of the upcoming collection, a spokesperson from Rock River Disposal stated, "We are pleased to offer this service to the residents of the City of Rockford. Proper disposal of Christmas trees is important for the environment and helps maintain the cleanliness of our city. We appreciate the cooperation of our residents in ensuring that trees are free of decorations and other materials before placing them out for collection."

This announcement serves as a reminder for all City of Rockford residents to mark their calendars and make the necessary preparations for the upcoming Christmas tree collection.

Click this link to access more information: https://rockfordil.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=121