South Bend, IN – Residents who still have real Christmas trees at home have a limited time to safely dispose of them through the City of South Bend’s annual Christmas tree recycling program, which runs through Wednesday, January 29.
According to the City of South Bend and the South Bend Fire Department, the program helps reduce fire hazards by encouraging residents to remove dried-out trees from their homes. Collected trees are recycled into mulch and compost rather than sent to landfills.
Curbside pickup takes place on the same day as a resident’s regular trash collection. To be eligible, all decorations must be removed before pickup, including ornaments, lights, tinsel, and tree stands. City officials say trees that are not properly prepared may be left behind.
Residents must schedule a pickup in advance. Requests can be submitted online at southbendin.gov/treepickup or by calling 311. The city recommends scheduling as soon as possible, as pickups are only available through the end of the month.
Fire officials warn that keeping dry Christmas trees indoors increases the risk of house fires, especially as needles dry out and become more flammable. Recycling the tree promptly helps reduce that risk while supporting the city’s composting efforts.
The program is open to South Bend residents with real, natural Christmas trees. Artificial trees are not accepted through the recycling service and should be disposed of through standard waste channels.
City officials say the program is part of broader seasonal cleanup efforts following the holidays and encourages residents to take advantage of the service before it ends.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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