The City of Rockford offers curbside tree pickup for residents. For those outside of Rockford or living in apartments or condos, Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful offers 13 collection sites (shown on map below) in Winnebago County for you to bring your tree between January 1 and 15. Here are the Christmas Tree Recycling locations.
According to KNIB.ORG, Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful collects in excess of 36,000 Christmas trees after they have done their initial service each year. They put them to further use thru recycling them into mulch which is then made available, first come first served, to local residents for use in their gardens. Since 1988, KNIB has collected and processed over one half million trees.

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Pine mulch is excellent for use with acid-loving plants such as roses, lilacs, azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas and evergreens. Other uses include ground cover for walkways and fence rows. This mulch is available to local residents and small business owners at no charge. You are encouraged to gather as much free mulch as you can personally use at your home or business. Bring your own shovels and bags for transporting. All mulch must be off the ground by March 1st, but it usually doesn't last that long.

When bringing your tree to one of the 13 sites listed below, be sure that you remove the stand and all ornaments. No wreaths can be accepted as they are held together with a wire frame which will destroy the mulching machines. If you transport your tree in a plastic tree bag (to keep the needles from messing up the house), be sure to remove the bag as it is NOT recyclable. You could also use an old sheet, wrap it around the tree to remove from the house and transport it then remove the sheet and take it home for further use.

Don Schmid Youth Sports Center
Blackhawk Park
Levings Lake
Andres Park
Gambino Park
Alpine Park
Pecatonica Wetlands Forest Preserve
Baumann Park
Valley View Farms
Rockton Boat Ramp Parking Lot
Williams Tree Farm
Machesney Park Village Hall
Martin Park  
Thanks for helping out our environment and recycling with KNIB and Q98.5.
 
 

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