For holiday waste, adapt to changed pickup schedule and properly dispose holiday tree

If your home or business gets trash, recycling, and compost normally collected on a Thursday or Friday, put your bins out a day later due to Christmas and New Year’s days.

Following those holidays, customers with regular Thursday pickups should place their bins curbside on Friday mornings by 7:00 am. And those with Friday pickups should set out their bins on Saturday by the same time. 

Please be advised that collection may occur later in the day than usual. However, if your collection is more than a day behind, report a missed pickup by submitting an online form or dialing Customer Service at (510) 981-7270.

When you're ready to dispose of your holiday tree, cut it up and place it in your bin for curbside pickup or drop it off whole at the City's Transfer Station. Whichever method you choose, remember to remove all lights, decorations, tinsel, plastic bags, and plastic tree stands first.

Help keep Berkeley clean by keeping discarded trees off our streets and sidewalks.

Prep your tree for curbside collection

Whole trees will not be picked up if left on the curb, as they can damage the City's collection trucks. Cut trees to fit into your green compost cart with the lid closed.

Trees that are flocked – artificially "snow-covered" – are not compostable. If you have a flocked tree, cut it up and treat it like a plastic tree: place it in your gray refuse cart.

If you don't have tools to cut your tree, try free tool rental:

Drop off whole trees at the Transfer Station

The Transfer Station will take compostable trees for free in the month of January. Starting February 1, the cost returns to the regular fee of $27.75 for disposal of up to 330lbs of plant debris and organic matter, plus a $3.50 Environmental Compliance Fee.

Flocked or plastic trees cost $38.50 to dispose of, plus a $3.50 Environmental Compliance Fee.

Help keep our streets and sidewalks clean by using your refuse and compost carts properly.

Links

• Berkeley Tool Lending Library
• Berkeley Transfer Station