TOLEDO, Ohio — No matter how close you may be holding on to the spirit of the season, the magic will eventually fade and that fresh Christmas tree will go along with it.
Fortunately, several communities have set up ways to properly dispose of real trees or recycle those lights that may not be so jolly and bright anymore.
Here's where, when and how you can recycle or dispose of your tree or Christmas lights in various communities in our area.
This list will be updated as more details are announced.
City of Toledo
The city of Toledo has designated the following locations for Christmas tree recycling:
- Bowman Park: Jackman Road south of Laskey Road
- Detwiler Park: Manhattan Boulevard and Summit Street
- Jermain Park: Upton Avenue and N. Cove Boulevard
- Ravine II Park: Off Dearborn Avenue
- Byrne Park: Byrne Road south of Glanzman Road
- Highland Park: Lower parking lot (South Avenue at Woodsdale Avenue main entrance)
Trees should be cleared of all decorations, bags or other materials. Locations are open to the public from sunrise to sunset. Collection will take place until Jan. 28.
Bowling Green
The city of Bowling Green will pick up Christmas trees beginning Tuesday, Jan. 2, for a one-week collection period. The collection period applies to locations served by the city and is not connected to the usual refuse and recycling schedule.
Trees should be placed curbside by 7 a.m. on the Monday of the scheduled collection week. All decorations, lights, metals and tree stands must be removed. Trees should not be left in bags.
Crews will not return to a street once completed.
Collected Christmas trees are recycled into wood chips, which are available for residents to use.
Hancock County
Residents can drop off their non-artificial Christmas trees at the Hancock County landfill through Jan. 15. All decorations should be removed before dropping off a tree.
Recycling containers are located in the parking lot south of the landfill office. The Hancock County Sanitary Landfill is located at 3763 County Road 140 in Findlay.
Perrysburg
Curbside collection of Christmas trees in Perrysburg will begin the second week of January. Crews will pick up trees on the same day as scheduled garbage collection.
All trees must be free of decorations and set to the street. Trees will not be collected in alleys.
Wreaths and roping cannot be recycled and should be placed in the gray refuse Toter. Christmas lights can be dropped off for recycling at the Department of Public Service.
Port Clinton
Republic Services will collect live trees in Port Clinton on Jan. 12 and Jan. 19. Trees should be left on the boulevard without any decorations or lights.
Rossford
The city of Rossford will offer additional service for excess holiday trash on Dec. 28 and Jan. 4. Extra service is limited to four bags or four trash cans each. Bags and cans are limited to 35 gallons and 40 pounds, and should contain trash like gift wrap, boxes and packing materials.
Christmas trees will be collected as one bulk item. Any tree over 6 feet tall should be cut in half.
Extra service is for holiday waste only and not for construction or home waste.
Sandusky
In Sandusky, tree pickup is organized by location-based zones, similar to leaf collection.
The service will run from Monday, Jan. 8 to Friday, Jan. 12. All trees must be placed on the curb by 7 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day and must not be placed in the street. All decorations must be removed.
Artificial trees are not accepted.
The city of Sandusky has released a map with dates and zones at this link.
African Safari Wildlife Park
Port Clinton-based African Safari Wildlife Park is accepting real Christmas tree donations for animal enrichment. The trees will serve as a treat for bison, cattle, alpacas and deer at the wildlife park. Once the animals are finished with the trees, they are composed and used as mulch around the park in spring.
Trees can be dropped off at the designated area of the park's main parking lot daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Jan. 5.
Trees should be free of all decorations, lights, ribbons and hooks. Artificial trees are not accepted.
The park is located at 267 S. Lightner Rd. in Port Clinton.
Christmas light recycling
Multiple locations across northwest Ohio
AIM eCycling is again partnering with GenoaBank and Nature's Nursery to help safely recycle Christmas lights.
Lights that are no longer needed can be dropped off at any GenoaBank location through Jan. 13.
Drop-off hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
For a little extra incentive to donate, Nature's Nursery will receive $1 for every pound of lights that are turned in.
Perrysburg
Christmas lights can be dropped off for recycling during regular business hours at the Department of Public Service, located at 11980 Roachton Rd. in Perrysburg.
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