City holiday recycling programs available

Nov 20, 2023

The City of Georgetown has several ways to recycle waste generated from the holidays this season.

Holiday string lights

The City has partnered with Texas Disposal Systems to offer free holiday string-light recycling to all Georgetown residents beginning Nov. 27.

Residents can drop off their old or broken string lights through Jan. 31 at one of four collection stations:

Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave.
Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
Georgetown Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.

Sun City residents may also drop off old or broken string lights at the Cowan Creek Amenity Center, 1433 Cool Spring Way, in Sun City.

The program is limited to string lights. Lights must be taken to a collection station and cannot be placed in residential or commercial recycling bins because they will damage the sorting machines at the recycling center. Yard art, inflatables, and other holiday lighting will not be collected.

Georgetown was the first city in Central Texas to offer this service when the program launched in December 2017. Last year residents recycled 5,900 pounds of Christmas lights.

Christmas trees, boxes, and wrapping paper

City of Georgetown residents are encouraged to recycle Christmas trees, boxes, and wrapping paper to reduce material going to the landfill. If you recycle your tree, please remove the tree stand and any garland, ornaments, or lights. Artificial trees cannot be recycled.

Christmas tree curbside pick up: Texas Disposal Systems customers in the city limits of Georgetown can put Christmas trees on the curb for pick up on your regular yard trimmings collection day. Trees seven feet in length or less can be placed at the curb uncut. Longer trees should be cut into sections. Artificial trees are not accepted.

Collection day look-up: For City of Georgetown residents, your yard trimmings collection day is on your first recycling day of the month. Georgetown solid waste and recycling customers can check their collection days, sign up for text or email reminders, and find out how to sort your solid waste and recycling on Texas Disposal Systems’ Waste Wizard at texasdisposal.com/waste-wizard. Pick up days will slide one day for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. For more information, visit georgetown.org/contact-us/holiday-schedule/

Boxes and wrapping paper: Cardboard boxes and wrapping paper are recyclable. If they won’t fit in your recycling cart, you can put wrapping paper and boxes in a larger box and set it next to your recycling cart. Ribbons and bows are not recyclable.

Cellophane wrap and plastic bags are recyclable if they are placed in a yellow bag-the-bag, tied, and placed inside the recycling cart. Bag-the-bag recycling bags are available for pick up at the following locations:

Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave.
Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
Georgetown Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.
Sun City Social Center monitors desk, 2 Texas Drive
Transfer Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive

Note that extra plastic bags next to your trash cart are not permitted without a bag tag. Go to recycle.georgetown.org for a complete list of recyclables.

Christmas tree drop-off: Christmas trees will be accepted at the City of Georgetown Transfer Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, from Jan. 2-31 at no charge. Normal fees apply to other items. Recycled Christmas trees are turned into mulch, which is available year-round, free of charge to City residents. Artificial trees are not accepted.

Transfer Station: Normal hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The Transfer Station will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. For details, contact Texas Disposal Systems at 512-930-1715.

Learn more about these programs on the City website. For more information about recycling in Georgetown, visit recycle.georgetown.org.