For many families, the holiday experience must include a fresh-cut Christmas tree standing in their living room. These holiday trees have a beauty and fragrance to them that warms the rental home. It’s as if a part of the outdoors has been brought inside. And when it’s decorated with lights and ornaments, it turns into one of the greatest icons of Christmas. But as soon as the holidays are over, the tree will have to be dealt with. Many Seattle tenants will need to figure out how to properly dispose of their trees. Dry pine needles are a fire hazard, so once you’ve taken down the decorations and ornaments, you have to remove your Christmas tree from the property as soon as you can. The complication here is that most dumpsters and general trash pick-ups won’t accept Christmas trees, so disposing of them may not be as easy as simply tossing them out. Below, we’ll take a look at several safe and legal ways renters can properly dispose of their Christmas trees.
One of the main ways to dispose of a Christmas tree is to visit your city’s website or that of your local waste removal company. In this information age, almost all cities and towns have their own websites with helpful information for residents. When the holiday season comes, they update it to include information for specific, city-run programs designed for Christmas tree removal. They do the same thing for local waste removal companies. Depending on the place, you may find local drop-off locations, curbside pickup, or even a service that shreds your tree for mulch.
If your town has a list of drop-off locations, this can very well be one of the easiest ways to get rid of your Christmas tree. To find the location that best suits you, just do an internet search. It’s quick and easy. After you’ve decided on a location, the next step is to take your tree there. If you’re thinking of doing this yourself, use a tree bag to protect your walls and floors from scratches and to keep dead pine needles from making a mess.
In some areas, the local yard waste removal company can arrange to have your tree picked up; there are even others that turn your tree into mulch right outside your home. To utilize these services, you may need to make a special request on or before a specific date, and some may cost you a little extra on your trash removal bill that month. If one of these solutions is available, remember to get all the relevant information, including any related fees, before you schedule the service.
Other than services provided by your city or a local waste removal company, there are still other ways to dispose of a Christmas tree. You can, if you have the means, hire someone to chop your tree up into firewood. You can also search online for several organizations that accept donated Christmas trees for use in environmental recovery projects. Find one closest to you. This is a nice option since many of these projects aim to reduce beach erosion or create habitats for wildlife using donated trees.
One alternative that you should never consider is to burn your Christmas tree on the property. It’s only a legitimate option if you own a wood-burning fireplace and if you had the tree cut into firewood. Otherwise, it’s very risky to light a dry pine tree on fire. You may injure yourself or even damage or destroy your 0location rental property and all your personal belongings in it.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) warns us that it takes less than 60 seconds for a Christmas tree fire to set an entire house ablaze. Even if you’ve successfully burned your tree without damaging the house, the flames would most likely damage the yard or another part of the property. This could end up with you having to pay fines or lose your security deposit, at a minimum.
The proper disposal of your Christmas tree is a serious thing. It is a responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly. By getting the right information and choosing the best method for you, you can get the job done properly and keep you and your rental home safe.
At Real Property Management Eclipse, we get that your business and personal life demands a lot from you, and you can’t always be on top of everything. Our team of Seattle property managers is ready to help you. We take care of all tenant communication, including educating them on important aspects like Christmas tree removal. Contact us or call us at 425-209-0252 today.
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