Dispose of holiday trees properly to keep them off streets, sidewalks

Drop off whole compostable trees at the Transfer Station for free in January or cut them up and put them in your green bin. Remember to remove all decorations and lights.

When you're ready to dispose of your holiday tree, you can cut it up and place it in your bin for curbside pickup or drop it off whole at the City's Transfer Station.

Whichever method you choose, remember to remove all lights, decorations, tinsel, plastic bags, and plastic tree stands first.

Help keep Berkeley clean by keeping discarded trees off our streets and sidewalks.

Prep your tree for curbside collection

For curbside collection, cut your tree up so it fits into your green compost cart with the lid closed.

Whole trees can damage the City's collection trucks and will not be picked up if left on the curb. Cut trees up to fit into your green plant debris bin with the lid closed.

Flocked or "snow-covered" trees are not compostable. If you have a flocked tree, cut it up and treat it as you would a plastic tree: place it in your gray refuse cart.

If you don't have tools to cut your tree, try free tool rental:

Berkeley Tool Lending Library
1901 Russell Street (at MLK)
Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, 10:00 am– 6:00 pm
Wednesday, Thursday, noon – 6:00 pm
Only Berkeley residents or property owners over age 18 may borrow tools.

Drop off whole trees at the Transfer Station

You may also drop off whole trees, with lights and decorations removed, at the City Transfer Station:

Berkeley Transfer Station
1201 2nd Street (off Gilman)
Open Monday - Saturday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Closed on New Year's Day
$38.50 fee plus $3.50 Environmental Compliance Fee for dropping off flocked or plastic trees

The Transfer Station will take compostable trees for free through the end of January. Starting February 1, the cost returns to normal fee of $27.75 for disposal of up to 330 lbs. of plant debris and organic matter.

Help keep our streets and sidewalks clean by properly using your refuse and compost carts.

Links

- Berkeley Tool Lending Library

- Berkeley Transfer Station

Give feedback on designs for Civic Center buildings, park, streets

Complete our online survey so we can understand your vision for Civic Center Park. Your feedback will help us develop a high-level design concept that reflects the needs of our community.

The survey will ask about your thoughts on the character and improvements to the park, the streets around it, proposed uses for the Maudelle Shirek Building and Veterans Memorial Building, and your connection to the space.

Please complete the online survey by January 5, 2023.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

As cases of flu, RSV, and COVID-19 rise, use simple tools to protect yourself, others for the holidays

Take advantage of the skills you learned and new medical tools gained through this pandemic to protect you from surging cases of three different viruses: COVID-19, the flu, and RSV.

Use vaccines or boosters that strongly protect you against severe cases of flu or COVID-19. If you get sick, medications are available to protect you from each of those two illnesses.

Combine those with everyday skills like masking in indoor public places, staying home when sick, washing hands, and testing when symptomatic, exposed, or before a gathering. Each of those strategies can help protect you and others from a range of illnesses, including these three viruses.

These recommendations from the City of Berkeley’s Health Officer and 11 other Bay Area Health jurisdictions come as infections continue to rise for each of these viruses and holiday gatherings pose a risk for even greater spread.

Read more at berkeleyca.gov.

More news from the City of Berkeley

- Attend City Council meetings in person or virtually, December 8, 2022

- Help develop an Action Plan to reduce wildfire hazards and risks, November 30, 2022

We're hiring! Featured jobs:

- Administrative and Fiscal Services Manager, closes January 3, 2023

- Aquatics Facilities Supervisor, closes January 3, 2023

- Community Services Specialist I (Temporary), closes January 3, 2023

- Community Services Specialist I, closes January 3, 2023

- Traffic Engineering Assistant, closes January 3, 2023

See all open positions or learn more at berkeleyca.gov/jobs.

Upcoming City Events

- January 11, 5:30pm-6:30pm: Civic Arts Grant Webinar: Individual Artist Projects

- January 12, 6:00pm-8:00pm: Free Quit Smoking Class

- January 13, 12:00pm-1:00pm: Civic Arts Grant Webinar: Community Festivals

See details for all upcoming city events.

Upcoming meetings

Boards & Commissions

- January 5, 7:00pm: Landmarks Preservation Commission
- January 9, 6:30pm: Youth Commission
- January 12, 7:00pm: Zoning Adjustments Board
- January 18, 6:00pm: Environmental and Climate Commission
- January 18, 7:00pm: Planning Commission
- January 19, 7:00pm: Design Review Committee

See details for upcoming boards and commission meetings.