Refuse collectors told not to take Christmas trees with weekly bins

Christmas trees left outside houses will not be removed as part of the weekly household refuse collection, local authorities have warned.

City and county councils have instructed waste collectors not to take Christmas trees left out as household rubbish, as part of a drive to encourage recycling.

Christmas tree recycling centres are now open at different locations in local authority areas throughout the State. Most will be open for the next two to three weeks, after which people can bring trees to permanent green waste-recycling centres in their local authority area.

"The council collects the trees from these sites and takes them for shredding and recycling. The bin men will not take trees that are just left outside houses, because with the household collection, the contents have to be in the bin and the bin lid has to be closed," a spokeswoman for Fingal County Council said.

The sites for tree disposal are in addition to the year-round recycling centres and have been chosen to ensure that householders do not have to travel long distances. Householders are also being encouraged to recycle Christmas packaging and other waste generated over the holiday season by placing appropriate materials in "green bins" or taking them to recycling centres.

Further details of Christmas tree recycling initiatives can be found at: www.raceagainstwaste.ie; and www.dublinwaste.ie.

Most local authorities have published tree collection points on their websites.

In Dublin city, tree recycling centres remain open until January 23rd at the following locations:

North Central: Belcamp Park; Edenmore Park; Mt Olive Park, Kilbarrack; and Alfie Byrne Road, Fairview.

Central: Ashington Park; Smithfield (at glass banks); Nephin Park, Cabra; Ballybogan Road (at glass banks); and Griffith Park, Drumcondra (Walsh Road entrance).

South Central: Le Fanu Park; Brickfields Park, Crumlin; Bushy Park, Terenure; Walkinstown Park; Eamonn Ceannt Park; Stanaway Park; and Cooke Street (green area).

South East: Milltown (car park); Sandymount strand (first car park); and Rathmines Swimming Pool (car park).

North West: Albert College, Glasnevin; Johnstown Park; Tolka Valley Park; Mellows Park; and Poppintree Park.