Buffalo offers week of Christmas tree recycling

The city's Department of Public Works (DPW) will collect the trees today through Friday -- as a way to divert more waste from landfills and re-use the materials.

It's an appropriate time to hold the collection, says DPW Commissioner Steve Stepniak.

"We figure that's the most productive time period after the Three Kings celebration.  We figure that's the time we're going to have the most trees out there," Stepniak says.

Residents can put their tree curbside on their regular garbage day, and crews will pick it up, he says.

And Stepniak also has this advice for residents.

"We would prefer them to be unbagged, again, we don't want you to put them in the street.  Put them curbside or near the snowbank.  Unbagged would be definitely helpful for us," he says.

Plus, the city requests people take any ornaments and lighting off the trees.

Stepniak says the tree collection will be separate from your regular garbage collection -- and may or may not happen the same day.

In addition to the one-week pick up, the City is also offering drop-off points at three locations in the city from now until Saturday, January 18, 2013. Again, ornaments, lights, and garland should be removed before discarding the tree at any of the following three locations: