Councils prepare to recycle thousands of Christmas trees in coming weeks

This weekend marks start of festive recycling period

Shreeding trees at a Christmas tree recycling centre. Galway City Council has advertised a €2 service for recycling trees and owners can take home a bag of resulting compost.

Local authorities across Ireland are preparing to recycle thousands of Christmas trees as the festive period comes to a close.

While January 6th is the traditional date for their removal, most households will likely use the weekend to dispose of their trees.

In the capital, Dublin City Council has announced details of its free service at 11 locations from this weekend until Monday, January 20th.

The authority said bring centres at Oscar Traynor Road, Coolock; Windmill Road, Crumlin; and Rathmines will open on Sundays between 10am and 4pm throughout January for unwanted festive leftovers, from wrapping paper to empty bottles. Full details are available online at dublincity.ie

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Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council will accept trees from now until Sunday, January 12th, between 9.30am and 3.30pm at various centres.

These are based at Blackrock Park, Cabinteely car park, Killiney Hill car park, Marlay Park, Grange Road car park, Mount Anville parks depot, Goatstown, Shanganagh recycling centre and at the west pier car park in Dún Laoghaire. It will also accept one tree per vehicle free at its Ballyogan recycling park during the month.

In south Dublin, facilities are available free from January 6th to 17th at centres in Lucan, Palmerstown, Clondalkin, Tallaght, Greenhills, Old Bawn, Firhouse, Rathfarnham and Saggart. Details are available online at sdcc.ie

Fingal County Council will operate 17 drop-off points at sites in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk, Swords, Donabate, Portrane, Malahide, Portmarnock, Baldoyle, Howth, Blanchardstown and Castleknock. Further details are online at fingalcoco.ie and the service will run from now until January 17th at no cost.

In Co Cork, nine permanent bring centres will accept trees while six temporary sites are due to open from next week. In Cork city, free services are open at the recycling centre on the Kinsale Road, Ballinlough Park and Clashduv Park. Full details are available online at corkcoco.ie

In Limerick, standard charges will apply at three recycling centres in Mungret, Kilmallock and Newcastle West while city collection points will set up on specific dates outlined online at lcc.ie

Galway City Council has advertised a €2 service for recycling trees, although that fee allows the owner to take home a bag of resulting compost.

Its facilities are located at Hunters depot opposite Barna Wood and at Merlin Woods depot until January 11th.

Householders should check their local council’s website for details of recycling sites.

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard is a reporter with The Irish Times