The collection of Christmas trees around Dare County has begun. Local groups and public works departments will be around to collect unwanted trees throughout the month of January. Here is a breakdown of local towns and the tree services they provide:

The Town of Kill Devil Hills will be collecting natural Christmas trees starting on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Trees must be placed in the right of way no later than Tuesday, Jan. 14. All ornaments, tinsel, lights and other non-organic items must be removed from the tree before collection. The town will not be collecting artificial trees or other bulk trash items that day. For more information, call 252-480-4080.

Nags Head is offering two options for those wishing to dispose of their natural trees. The first is to remove all trimmings and place the tree by the side of the road in front of your property for collection by the Public Works department. They will be making several collections throughout the month of January. To ensure availability for collection of your tree, contact the department at 252-441-1122. If you are a property owner/resident of Nags Head, you can also drop your tree off at the bulk item/brush collection yard on Lark Ave. on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All Christmas trees that are collected by the town or dropped off at the collection yard will be re-purposed by the Boy Scouts of America.

Local Boy Scout Troop 117 will be around to collect trees for their “Deck the Dunes” project. According to their website, the troops will collect unwanted Christmas trees for free and place the trees on the dunes in the Outer Banks to promote environmental wellness for the area. Scouts will pick up trees on Saturday, Jan. 4 and Saturday, Jan. 11.

Their website reads, “Please place your tree out front by the curb and ensure all decorations are completely removed. If you used tinsel and can’t get it off, we cannot take your tree. Turtles hate tinsel.” To schedule a tree pickup from the scouts, register your property at www.troop117obx.org/products/christmas-tree-pickup.

In the Town of Duck, Waste Management will collect ornament-free trees placed at the curb on Jan. 6 and Jan. 13. Southern Shores is offering Christmas tree pickup in the limb/branch piles for collection during scheduled sector times. Wreaths are excluded from this collection; guidelines for limb/branch collection will apply.

In unincorporated Dare County, Christmas trees can be dropped off at Dare County Public Works Recycling Center, 1018 Driftwood Dr. in Manteo and at the Buxton Transfer facility at 47027 Buxton Back Road in Buxton.

On Hatteras Island, Camp Hatteras at 24798 NC 12, Waves, is also collecting Christmas trees.

Remember to remove all ornaments, lights, ribbons, tinsel and other decorations before dropping them off at the recycling centers

The county’s public works staffers do not pickup Christmas trees left curbside.

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