Aurora set to start collection of real Christmas trees

Aurora is set to begin its free Christmas tree pickup program starting Jan. 9.

Real Christmas trees will be picked up for free during weekly trash and recycling collection from Monday, Jan. 9, through Friday, Jan. 20. No sticker is required for collection of the trees, officials said.

To be properly recycled, trees must be free of plastic bags, all decorations and tree stands, and placed at the curb by 6 a.m. on the normal collection day, according to city officials.

After Jan. 20, trees left at the curb on regular collection days must have a sticker in order to be collected.

Due to the wire used to form them, wreaths and garlands will not be collected as recycling and must be stickered as trash, city officials said.

Towns throughout the Fox Valley are offering Christmas tree pickup programs, including Batavia, which is already in the midst of its collection effort.

Trees were picked up last week and are again being picked up for free this week by Waste Management, Batavia’s waste hauler. No refuse stickers are necessary during the program, officials said.

In Geneva, trees will be picked up for free on residents’ garbage days this week and next week by Lakeshore Recycling Systems, the city’s waste hauler. No refuse stickers are necessary during the program.

Trees discarded after the first two weeks of January will require one Geneva refuse sticker, city officials said.

People must place their live trees out with their garbage no later than 7 a.m. on their scheduled garbage day. Ornaments, hooks, nails, tinsel, garland, tree stands and other hard materials should be removed from the trees prior to disposal. Trees placed in bags will not be accepted, Geneva officials said.

The city of St. Charles is also offering residents a free Christmas tree collection. No sticker is required to
get rid of a tree this week and next week.

Trees will be picked up on both sides of the river on the regularly scheduled refuse day. After that two-week period, a sticker will be required to pick up the tree, officials said.

Fox Valley residents should check with their city government for more information on local Christmas tree pickup programs.