Happy New Year!

With the winter holidays behind us (and the New Year ahead), there are a lot of people with questions about trash and recycling, as well as what to do with those dry trees shedding needles in their living rooms. Please note below -- if you want your tree to be mulched, it goes on the sidewalk, if you want your tree to go to the landfill, it goes with your regular pick-up.

The Department of Public Works reports:

Since the Christmas holiday was observed Tuesday, trash and recycling collections that normally occurs between Tuesday and Friday, will "slide" to the next day. In once-a-week collection neighborhoods, Tuesday's collections will be made Wednesday, and so on. In twice-weekly collection neighborhoods, Tuesday's and Friday’s collections will be made Wednesday and Saturday and Thursday's collections will be made Friday. DPW will follow the same collection schedule next week because New Year's Day will be observed Tuesday, January 1, 2008. 

Holiday Tree Collections: The Department of Public Works will collect holiday trees and greenery between January 2 and 19, 2008. Residents should strip their trees and greenery of all ornaments and tinsel and place these items at the curb between January 2 and 13. Trees and greenery collected from curbside by January 19 will be mulched. 

After January 19, residents who want their trees to be mulched, may bring them to the Ft. Totten Trash Transfer Station, 4900 Bates Road, NE, where a special container will hold the trees that will be picked and mulched by a contractor. This service will be available until it is determined that there is no further need for this service and the season has ended. Ft. Totten is open to residents weekdays, 1 pm to 5 pm, and Saturdays from 8 am to 3 pm. 

Residents may place their trees with their trash and the collection crews will pick them up as space permits in their trucks. These trees will be taken to the landfill. For questions about these collections, please call (202) 727-1000.

DCist also has a write-up about what to do with your trees.