Forest of Dean District Council to pick up real Christmas trees from the kerb
Forest of Dean District Council will pick up real Christmas trees from all households following this year’s festive celebrations as it urges residents to reduce waste over Christmas and New Year and make the most of their kerbside recycling services.
Residents wishing to recycle their trees will need to present them on their scheduled garden waste collection day between Monday 9 to Friday 20 January in order to be collected. The service is available to all households, including those without a current garden waste licence.
Councillor Richard Leppington, Cabinet Member for Finance and Waste at the Forest of Dean District Council, said: “Once again we are offering to collect real Christmas trees from the kerbside to make it easier for residents to dispose of them at this busy time of year. The service is available to all households, irrespective of whether they have a current garden waste licence or not, just as long as all the lights, decorations and any stands have been removed. To assist Biffa’s crews, we are asking residents to reduce larger trees down to around 1-metre lengths which can either be left ready at the kerbside or put inside the green garden waste wheeled bin, if available.”
Once collected, trees will be taken to Rose Hill Farm, Dymock where they will be composted and turned into a soil improver for use on agricultural land.
Garden waste collections take place on the alternate week to the refuse collections for most properties. Anyone who is unsure when their waste and recycling collections are due over the Christmas break can either visit the waste pages of the Council’s website (www.fdean.gov.uk/binday), check their annual waste calendar which was posted to households in the spring, or call the customer services team on 01594 810000 during office opening hours.
Trees need to be presented by 7am on the scheduled collection day.
Real Christmas trees, along with excess recycling and refuse, can also be taken to the local Household Recycling Centres at Oak Quarry (Broadwell) and Hempsted (Gloucester) and, in the case of trees, placed in the dedicated garden waste bank. In addition to being closed every Tuesday and Thursday respectively throughout the year, the sites, which are currently operating winter opening hours (10.00am to 4.00pm daily), will be shut on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Visitors to Gloucestershire County Council’s Household Recycling Centres must book in advance by visiting: www.gloucestershirerecycles.com