Crime & Safety

Don't Burn, but Recycle, Your Christmas Tree

CC&R and Waste Management both provide Christmas tree pickup. The OCFA warns, don't toss it in the fireplace.

CC&R and Waste Management, the two companies that collect trash in the Rancho Santa Margarita area, both provide Christmas tree pickup as part of their service. Getting rid of the evergreen is easy; basically, just get it to the curb.

It is recommended that to recycle the tree, remove tinsel, garland, ornaments, lights, wires, nails and stand beforehand. Place the tree bottom first and upright in your green waste container. If one is not available, place the tree curbside on your service day. If the three is taller than 6 feet, cut it in half.

(See the attached video to learn more about recycling.)

Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the City of Rancho Santa Margarita's website, CC&R will collect Christmas trees through Friday, Jan. 6.

Most important, warns the Orange County Fire Authority, don't cut the tree up and burn it in your fireplace, or in the backyard. Trees can go up in a flash. In fact, to combat the occasional vandal that lights trees that are set on the street, you might try to soak the tree with a water hose.

Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

(See the attached video of a tree getting burned in the inappropriately titled "How to properly dispose of Christmas tree" --  you only need to see the first few seconds to get the idea.)

"They burn so hot that they do cause structure fires," said Marc Stone, spokesman for the OCFA. "People try to feed it too much. Fireplaces in tract homes aren’t made for rip-roaring fires like Montana or Colorado. If there’s not a proper spark arrester on top of the chimney that can cause structure fires, too. The potential for starting a fire in your own home is increased when you burn a christmas tree in your fireplace.

"The other problem is that it puts out a lot of smoke and we get calls from people thinking there is a fire."


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