Update Dec. 30, 2015 from Maplewood Public Works Director Calvin Bell: “Holiday trees and greenery will be collected by the Dept. of Public Works between December 30th and January 31st. Residents should remove all ornaments, and place their trees at curbside for collection. The trees will be collected section by section, beginning with Section 1. Residents can also bring their trees to the Public Works facility located at 359 Boyden Ave. (M-F, 7:30-3:30, Sat., 9-12). No trees will be collected, after January 31st.”
Starting January 4, 2016 the Maplewood Department of Public Works will be picking up Christmas trees placed at the curb. According to Public Works, there is no set schedule; rather, DPW “will go section by section and then start the process over again.”
The last date for trees to be placed at the curb is January 30, 2016.
Maplewood asks that residents not leave any decorations, nails, or screws on the trees as this type of material will damage Public Works’ equipment. Christmas wreathes with metal wiring are to be placed in household garbage because they will also damage Public Works’ equipment.
South Orange Trustee Walter Clarke reports that South Orange Public Works likewise will begin tree pickup next week.
“The Department of Public Works waits until they have a good concentration of trees on the street so they don’t waste fuel driving around,” said Clarke. He added, “The basic rules are: only trees, no plastic wrap, no leftover ornaments, no wreaths (they have wire). Please leave the trees by the curb but not in the street.”
Typically South Orange Christmas tree pick up ends the last week of January and all trees collected are recycled and processed into mulch for sale to residents’ landscapers. Material from the trees is also used in South Orange parks and playground areas.
