Throwing away your Christmas tree might be a complicated thing to do, right? But, have you heard about the rules in Minnesota? Here, there are very strict rules about how people must throw away their Christmas trees and other yard waste. If you don’t follow these rules, you could face very high fines. So, let’s learn more about these Minnesota rules.
Throwing away your Christmas tree in the trash
Do you put a natural Christmas tree or yard waste into regular trash cans or garbage bags? Well, if you do, you should know that that’s illegal in Minnesota. This means you cannot leave your tree at the curb with your normal garbage because the state has clear rules about how these natural materials must be handled.
If someone breaks the rules, they can receive a fine of up to $1,000, which is a very high amount for something that seems to be a simple mistake. This is why it’s important to know and respect this rule.
Burning your Christmas tree
Some people might think burning their Christmas tree is a fast way to get rid of it, but in Minnesota, you are not allowed to do this unless you have a special permit. Basically, if someone burns their Christmas tree or yard waste with no permission, they could face a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 90 days in jail, even for a first-time offense.
In addition, local towns or cities may have even stricter rules.For example, if the weather is very dry and there is a risk of wildfires, burning yard waste might be completely banned.
How to legally get rid of the tree
Even though there are many rules, there are two legal and safe ways to throw away your Christmas tree or yard waste in Minnesota. Let’s have a look at them:
- Having a garbage hauler pick it up: A garbage hauler is a company that picks up trash. Many of these companies offer special pickups for Christmas trees right after the holidays. Some have a set day for collecting yard waste, while others ask homeowners to call and schedule a pickup.
- Dropping off the tree at a collection facility: The second option is to take your Christmas tree or yard waste to a local center that knows how to handle it safely. These facilities are approved by the state to take care of natural materials the right way.
Before using either method, you should know that all decorations must be removed from the Christmas tree, including: lights, ornaments, tinsel, or anything else attached to the branches. Yard waste should also be cut or broken down into smaller pieces as much as possible.
So…
If you want to get rid of your Christmas tree in Minnesota, you shouldn’t worry about it because the only thing you need to do is to follow the rules.
Remember, you have two safe and legal options: schedule a pickup with your garbage company or take it to an authorized collection facility. Before doing so, it’s important you make sure to remove all decorations and prepare your yard waste properly.
So, after the holidays, take care of your Christmas tree the right way and enjoy a stress-free start to the new year!