Give Your Holiday Tree a Second Life at TreeCycle Jan. 10

Holiday trees, with the adornments removed, take on a great second life as mulch and wood chips /Delaware DNREC photo

DNREC Encourages Delawareans to Choose Additional Eco-Friendly Tree Disposal and Organic Reuse Options

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is sponsoring the Delaware Center for Horticulture’s (DCH) TreeCycle event again in 2026. TreeCycle, where holiday trees are turned into mulch and wood chips, is a family-friendly recycling event to be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 10, at the DCH parking lot, 1810 North Dupont Street, Wilmington, Del.

The Davey Tree Expert Company will operate a commercial chipper/grinder on site, producing organic material to be used in DCH gardens, the Shearman Street community garden and public landscapes throughout the city of Wilmington. All ornaments, garland, flocking, lights and stands must be removed before trees can be recycled. No artificial trees are accepted. A suggested donation of $20 per tree will support DCH’s community forestry efforts.

DNREC continues to encourage Delawareans to recycle their holiday trees through curbside pickup or drop-off program when available. Residents who pay for curbside collection service or live in certain municipalities should contact their waste hauler to ask whether holiday tree pickup is offered and whether it is included.

If pickup is unavailable from haulers, Delawareans can use yard waste drop-off sites statewide. DNREC’s by-county listings of yard waste drop-off sites can be found on the de.gov/yardwaste webpage. Some of these sites accept trees at no cost, while others charge a fee. Holiday trees are accepted as early as Dec. 26 at some facilities for recycling, but each company operates on a different schedule. Residents should call ahead to confirm hours, rules and pricing.

Delawareans also are reminded that Jan. 18, 2026 is the last day to drop off yard waste materials – to include holiday trees – at the Polly Drummond Hill Road yard waste site in northern New Castle County. The DNREC-administered site will close at sundown Sunday, Jan. 18.

More than 156,600 tons of yard waste were recycled in 2024 in Delaware – including lawn and landscaping materials, and holiday trees. Prior to the state’s yard waste ban, many of these materials – now considered reusable resources – were sent to landfills, taking up space rather than being handled through local markets for mulch and composting.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances ensures Delaware’s wastes are managed to protect human life, health, safety and the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Alyssa Imprescia, Alyssa.imprescia@delaware.gov

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Recycle Holiday Trees in the New Year at Delaware Center for Horticulture’s TreeCycle Event Jan. 4

The Delaware Center for Horticulture’s annual TreeCycle event for the beneficial reuse of holiday trees is family-friendly and -involved. This year’s TreeCycle, again sponsored by DNREC, is set for Saturday, Jan. 4, from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. /DNREC photo

DNREC Again Sponsors DCH Beneficial Reuse Event for Holiday Trees
While Advising on Other Environmentally Helpful Tree Disposal Options

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is again sponsoring the Delaware Center for Horticulture’s (DCH) TreeCycle event that aims to make beneficial reuse of holiday trees by turning them into wood chips and mulch while also keeping the trees out of the state’s landfills. TreeCycle is a family-friendly recycling event to be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 4, at the DCH parking lot, 1810 North Dupont Street, Wilmington, DE 19806 where Delawareans can bring their holiday trees for environmentally-rewarding disposal.

The Davey Tree Expert Company again will be on hand at the TreeCycle event to chip and mulch trees with a commercial chipper/grinder, producing organic material to be used in DCH gardens, the Shearman Street community garden, and public landscapes throughout the City of Wilmington. All ornaments, garland, lights and stands must be removed before trees can be recycled and no artificial trees are accepted. A suggested donation of $20 per vehicle bringing holiday trees to TreeCycle will benefit DCH’s community forestry efforts.

In addition to sponsoring the DCH event, DNREC continues to encourage Delawareans to recycle their holiday trees for the environmental benefits they provide when repurposed – versus the environmental downside of post-holiday trees going to waste either in a landfill or littering a landscape when they can be a valuable organic resource.

While the state’s solid waste regulations now prohibit Christmas trees from going into the state’s landfills, prior to Delaware’s yard waste ban, that was the destination for many of them, where they took up valuable space, rather than being handled by local markets for beneficial reuse as mulch and home composting. Not to mention, apropos of climate change impacts facing the First State today, that holiday tree mulch is great for helping conserve and enhance Delaware soil by sequestering carbon that both fertilizes the soil and helps it retain moisture.

Nowadays, instead of going into the landfill, holiday trees can be dropped off at numerous yard waste collection or drop-off sites across the state, where they’ll soon be turned into mulch or compost – though residents should also be aware that many of the commercial sites charge a fee for accepting trees to be recycled. DNREC also reminds residents who don’t plan to take their trees to a yard waste drop-off site that they should check with their waste hauler or municipality to see if the hauler or town offers curbside collection of holiday trees. If residents find that curbside pickup is unavailable to them, they are advised to check DNREC’s by-county listing of yard waste drop-off sites.

More information about yard waste collection in Delaware can be found at de.gov/yardwaste. More information about the Delaware Center for Horticulture and the TreeCycle event, which has a Jan. 5 rain date, is at thedch.org.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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Get Involved in Earth Month: Register Now for the April 13 Christina River Watershed Cleanup

The Christina River Watershed Cleanup includes sites accessed by water, such as the Newport Boat Ramp site./DNREC photo.

Registration is now open for the annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup, rallying volunteers to join the effort on Saturday, April 13. Sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, in partnership with the Christina Conservancy and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, the cleanup marks the 32nd year hundreds of volunteers will pick up trash at sites across New Castle County as part of Earth Month activities in Delaware.

The cleanup, scheduled from 8 to 11 a.m., will span more than 12 sites from Brandywine Hundred south through Glasgow and Bear. Cleanup volunteers are encouraged to register now through Friday, April 5, on the volunteer tab at ChristinaRiverCleanup.org. Volunteers registered for the cleanup will be provided with gloves, trash bags and safety vests to use during the cleanup. As a thank you, volunteers will receive a Christina River Watershed Cleanup vehicle trash bag or other cleanup swag items while supplies last.

Last April, the Christina River Watershed Cleanup mobilized more than 750 volunteers to pick up 13 tons of trash, tires and recyclables at a dozen sites in New Castle County. The initiative not only focuses on cleaning up but also on educating the community about the importance of maintaining clean and healthy waterways throughout the year.

DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin highlighted the cleanup as a cornerstone of Delaware’s ongoing environmental initiatives, including Governor Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free campaign.

“As part of our mission to keep trash out of Delaware’s waterways and landscapes, and to educate residents and visitors about cleaning up all year round, DNREC hosts two large-scale cleanups each year,” said Secretary Garvin. “With the statewide Delaware Coastal Cleanup not till September, the Christina River Watershed Cleanup in April focuses on a variety of sites in New Castle County as part of DNREC’s celebration of Earth Month – and what better time to support Governor Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free campaign.”

Cleanup Coordinator Shirley Posey emphasized the event’s long-standing commitment to improving the Christina River Watershed and its surroundings.

“This is the 32nd year for the annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup, and we hope to collect – or surpass – our annual average of 15 tons of trash, from piles of tires and appliances to household items and uncountable pieces of plastic,” said Posey. “With 10 cleanup sites this year, we are focused on restoring the health of the river and its watersheds. We invite everyone to join us for another successful cleanup on April 13.”

To further engage the community, volunteers are invited to share their cleanup experiences on social media for a chance to win a 2024 Delaware State Parks annual pass. Each photo shared with @ChristinaCleanup or @CRWCleanup with the #ChristinaRiverCleanup hashtags will count as an entry. Information about the 2024 Christina River Watershed Cleanup will also be posted on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

The event organizers also offered reminders and safety tips for participants, to include:

Know your limitations and be aware of possibly hazardous areas, including along roadways, streambanks, and steep or slippery slopes.
Dress appropriately for the weather, with sturdy shoes or boots that can get dirty.
Always Recycle Right. Items with lots of dirt or grit attached or inside should be placed in the trash.
As encouraged by Governor Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free initiative, make every day a cleanup day — not just once a year — by packing a disposable bag and rubber or garden gloves whenever you take a walk or go hiking, to collect and carry out trash you find along the way.

Additionally, volunteers are advised to avoid these actions when cleaning up:

Don’t enter private property without permission of the landowner.
Don’t place yourself in any danger while volunteering for the Christina River Watershed Cleanup.
For any independent cleanup volunteers participating, don’t collect any trash that your household waste hauler might not accept. Tires, construction materials, and metal drums may be unacceptable.

More information can be found at ChristinaRiverCleanup.org, or by emailing ChristinaRiverCleanup@gmail.com.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, Joanna.wilson@delaware.gov, Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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Recycle Your Holiday Tree at Free TreeCycle Event Jan. 6

DNREC and the Delaware Center for Horticulture are encouraging families to recycle their holiday trees at the DHC TreeCycle event on Jan. 6, 2024. Photo/Delaware Center for Horticulture

DNREC, Delaware Center for Horticulture Team Up to Keep Trees Working for our Environment

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control in partnership with the Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH) are encouraging families to recycle their live holiday trees by hosting TreeCycle, a free-of-charge, family-friendly tree recycling event that will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the DCH parking lot, 1810 North Dupont Street, Wilmington, Del. The rain date will be Sunday, Jan. 7.

To keep your holiday trees working for the environment, the Davey Tree Expert Company will be onsite to chip them using its commercial chipper/grinder to produce wood chips that will be used in DCH gardens, the Shearman Street community garden and other public landscapes throughout the city of Wilmington.

For equipment and operator safety, all ornaments, tinsel and other decorations, fake snow, light strings and stands must be removed before chipping. No artificial trees will be accepted.

Additional support for this event is provided by Republic Services. More information about the TreeCycle event can be found at thedch.org. Donations will be accepted to benefit DCH’s community forestry efforts.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

About Delaware Center for Horticulture
Since 1977, the Delaware Center for Horticulture has inspired individuals and communities through the power of plants. Its work includes creating and maintaining the first Urban Farm in the city of Wilmington, establishing the Branches to Chances Return to Work Program, beautifying public landscapes, planting and advising on the urban placement of trees, and hosting educational programs and community events. For more information, visit www.thedch.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts:
DNREC: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov
DCH: Caitlyn Ridgley, cridgley@thedch.org

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DNREC Announces Volunteer Registration Opening Today for Delaware Coastal Cleanup Sept. 23

Volunteers picked up trash at Fox Point State Park, one of 45 sites cleaned during the 2022 Delaware Coastal Cleanup. /DNREC photo.

Volunteers throughout the state are encouraged to join the 2023 Delaware Coastal Cleanup, the annual one-day coordinated statewide trash cleanup event on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon, with online volunteer registration opening today. Hosted by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and now in its 36th year, the event will be held at 45 sites to help keep Delaware’s beaches and waterways free of trash.

In addition, Delawareans and visitors are invited to join the month-long campaign starting Sept. 1 to clean up neighborhoods, green spaces and waterways statewide on days, times and at locations of their choice. The coordinated event and month-long campaign support Governor John Carney’s Keep DE Litter Free initiative.

“Four years after the launch of our Keep DE Litter Free initiative, we are seeing Delawareans of all ages and communities coming together to keep our neighborhoods, coastlines and outdoor spaces clear of litter,” Governor Carney said. “Over 1,200 volunteers came out to last year’s Delaware Coastal Cleanup to help in our statewide cleanup efforts. Thank you to all volunteers who participate in our efforts to keep our state beautiful.”

“Last year, the number of volunteers who joined us to pick up trash from our beaches, waterways and wetlands doubled. This year, we hope that even more Delawareans and visitors of all ages will give their time for one day to make a difference,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “We also continue to encourage volunteers to make every day a cleanup day in Delaware during the month of September – and throughout the year.”

Volunteers at the event speaking with the site captain. For the Sept. 23 coordinated cleanup, volunteers should sign up by Friday, Sept. 1 for their choice of sites through the Coastal Cleanup page at de.gov/coastalcleanup. Walkups are not encouraged due to volunteer site capacity limitations.

Site captains with supplies will be on site to sign in volunteers and provide supplies, trash bags and directions. Although gloves, paper data cards and pens will be available upon request, volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves and to use the online Coastal Cleanup reporting tool, when it goes live Sept. 1, to share their findings. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own five-gallon buckets to collect trash, emptying the buckets into consolidated trash bags to reduce the number of plastic bags going to landfills.

Find ideas about how to get involved in the 2023 Delaware Coastal Cleanup on Facebook and Twitter. Volunteers in both the coordinated event on Sept. 23 and the month-long campaign can post photos on facebook.com/DelawareDNREC for a chance to win a 2023 Delaware State Parks pass and a prize bag. Volunteers can post photos as often as they like throughout the month, with each photo counting as a one entry. All volunteers should also report their findings and are invited to share photos through the Coastal Cleanup page. Results will be updated during all month long and will appear on an interactive map.

Last year, 1,180 volunteers cleaned up 6,248 pounds of trash from waterways, wetlands and other natural areas. The top five trash items collected were: 12,280 cigarette butts; 4,986 plastic and glass beverage bottles and cans; 4,852 food wrappers and containers; 300 balloons, and 459 plastic bags, half the number from the year before.

Cleaning up locally makes a big difference statewide and keeps trash from entering waterways and making its way to beaches and beyond. DNREC suggests several ways to help make a difference all year long:

Be proactive by picking up trash near your home to keep your neighborhood clean.
Follow a carry-in/carry out plan and take all trash with you when visiting outdoor spaces, like Delaware State Parks, DNREC wildlife areas, Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve locations, and county or local parks.
Pack a bag and rubber gloves when you take a walk, go for a hike, go hunting or fishing, etc., to collect and carry out trash you find along the way.
Recycle applicable items through in-home recycling or designated drop-off locations. Learn more at de.gov/recycling.

DNREC reminds everyone to wear gloves when picking up trash, wash hands thoroughly after cleanup activities. More information and volunteer registration can be found at de.gov/coastalcleanup. Volunteers also can email questions to DNREC_Coastal_Cleanup@delaware.gov.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov, Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov

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