The County Public Works Department is sponsoring a Christmas tree collection program this year.

Trees will be chipped for mulch for use at a public project and not sent to a landfill.

“Help us reduce the volume of holiday trash by bringing your clean, undecorated natural trees (no flocked or artificial trees) to your island’s solid waste facility during regular open hours,” said Helen Venada, who is the waste reduction and hazardous waste coordinator for the county.

There is a $5 per tree charge for trees brought in between Jan. 1 and Jan. 16.

“Last year’s chipping program diverted approximately three tons of Christmas trees from the landfill,” Venada said.

Call the San Juan County Public Works Department at 370-0503 with questions.