Bring Christmas trees to compost site in January
Anoka County’s two compost sites in Bunker Hills Regional Park and Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park closed for the season Nov. 30, 2012. However, the Bunker Hills compost site, located one mile north of Main Street on Hanson Boulevard in Coon Rapids, will re-open for two weekends in January to receive Christmas trees and evergreen garland (not bound with wire), as well as other types of yard and tree waste.
Examples of acceptable yard and tree waste include leaves, grass clippings, garden waste, weeds, brush, logs and stumps.
The Bunker Hills compost site winter hours will be 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 5 and 12, and noon to 4:30 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 6 and 13. The Bunker Hills and Rice Creek Chain of Lakes compost sites will re-open on April 1, 2013, weather permitting.
Residents are asked to remove all wire from evergreen boughs and garland before bringing them to the compost site. Christmas trees should be free of tinsel and any ornaments, wire and stands.
There is a $1.50 charge per Christmas tree. There is a fee of $4 per vehicle for debagged leaves, grass clippings and garden waste up to four cubic yards. An additional 50 cents per yard will be charged in excess of four cubic yards.
There is a variable fee for tree waste disposal, depending on the size and amount of the material. Residents are asked to keep yard waste separate from tree waste.
As an alternative, most garbage haulers offer Christmas tree collection as part of their service. Some municipalities collect and chip Christmas trees for mulch. Contact your hauler or municipality to obtain specific pickup information for your area.
