Turn your Christmas tree into mulch and compost and keep large gift boxes out of the trash (and out of sight of would-be thieves) through the City’s Tree Cycling and Holiday Box Recycling programs. Both programs began today and continue through Feb. 7.  

Trees may be dropped off 24/7 at the Municipal Service Center, 1260 Columbia Dr., or set out at the curb and picked up as part of the City’s weekly Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC), to be turned into mulch and compost. Trees must be natural (not artificial), unflocked and all decorations, nails etc. must be removed. The mulch and compost are created thanks to a regional partnership between Richardson, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco and Texas Pure; it is used in landscaping by the cities and offered to the public for purchase. Residents of the five member cities receive a discount.  

Boxes (flattened) may be dropped off at the following locations:  

  • Custer Park  
    700 W. Renner Rd. (near the tennis courts)  
  • Recycle Center  
    102 N. Cottonwood Dr.  
  • Huffhines Park 
    1500 Apollo Rd. (near the Huffhines Tennis Center courts)  
  • Breckinridge Park  
    5200 Park Vista Rd. (near the baseball complex)   

Website: www.cor.net/boxandtreerecycling

Contact: 972-744-4111 for BABIC pick-up; be sure to request that the tree be collected for composting.