Traditionally Christmas decorations stay up through New Year’s Day, which means today is the official start of the “chucking your dried-up tree onto the sidewalk without regard for your neighbors or trash collection schedule” season. Allow DCist to help point you in the proper direction for Christmas tree disposal.

The District Department of Public Works is collecting trees from sidewalks starting today through Jan. 19. However, in order to be certain DPW will pick up your tree, you need to place it outside before Jan. 13. You should ensure that your tree is not obstructing a pedestrian pathway and leave it there until it is collected. Trees collected before Jan. 19 will be mulched by the city.

If you place your tree out by Jan. 13, and it is still not collected by Jan. 19, you should call (202) 727-1000.

If you can’t manage to get your tree stripped and outside by Jan. 13, you have two options: 1) put your tree out, stripped of all ornaments and tinsel, with your normal trash collection. Trash collectors will pick up your tree but only as space permits in their truck. Just keep in mind that these trees will be taken straight to the landfill. 2) Strap your tree on top of a car and bring it to the Ft. Totten Trash Transfer Station at 4900 Bates Road NE, where you can drop it off for mulching between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Ft. Totten drop-off doesn’t have an official closing date, but we’d recommend not waiting much longer than the first week of February.

Photo by christaki