Watch CBS News

Colorado Snowstorm Aftermath: What To Do With All Those Broken Branches!?

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- Like many in Jefferson County, Ryan Witt heard the trees around him in Arvada breaking overnight because of the weight from Friday's snow.

"All night we were hearing stuff fall," he said.

He didn't realize how bad the situation was until his wife saw their front yard, where a huge tree had spit and fallen into the street.

better ryans tree
(credit: CBS)

"She was like, Oh, that's a big one," Ryan said.

Just down the street his neighbor had a branch fall on his truck.

"I'm not too worried about the camper top. It didn't seem like it broke the windshield or anything," the neighbor said.

tree on truck
(credit: CBS)

Now for them, and many across the Denver metro area, begins the cleanup. If you live in Denver getting rid of fallen branches is easy.

"Put branches no larger than 4 inches in diameter out there with a regular trash. Put it in 4-foot bundles, no more than 50 pounds and DOTI will come by and pick it up," said City of Denver Forester Mike Swanson.

For larger branches he adds, "If you have a truck, you can take it to the Cherry Creek Transfer Station on Quebec and East Cherry Creek Drive South."

demolished tree
(credit: CBS)

In Jefferson County, the County will soon be opening SLASH Collection Centers where you can drop branches off. The first one will be at Beaver Ranch Park on June 2nd-5th.

The City of Arvada posted on their website that they are trying to open locations to drop of branches as well, but ae focused right now on safely cleaning up the mess left behind by mother nature.

If you don't have the resources to cut and drop branches off at designated sites, you can also just hire someone to do all the work for you.

tree crew
(credit: CBS)

"Call a licensed and insured professional tree company and they'll chip it up they'll be safe and prune the any damage or your tree remove the tree if it needs to be removed," said Mike Swanson.

To find a complete list of SLASH collection sites visit Jefferson County's website: https://www.jeffco.us/2493/Slash-Collection

Denver: the Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-off provides a convenient and NO-COST way for Denver residents to keep extra recyclables out of the landfill and to compost yard debris, food scraps, and non-recyclable paper. No trailer loads of yard debris are accepted at this site. It is reserved for Denver residents only. Hours are Tuesdays - Fridays: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Closed Sundays & Mondays and on all City Holidays.

Aurora: the drop-off site for branches is Lowry Park, 1001 N. Dayton St., through 5/30, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Visit AuroraGov.org/Trees for a map of the drop-off site.

Jefferson County: find a complete list of SLASH collection sites: https://www.jeffco.us/2493/Slash-Collection

Greenwood Village: Cut branches to less than 10 feet; place at curb or roadway. Call Public Works, 303-708-6100 or email webpublicworks@greenwoodvillage.com.

Douglas County: the Slash-mulch site is for Douglas County residents only and open Saturdays only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are 2 locations: 1400 Caprice Drive, Castle Rock and Trumbull/ Swayback Site, 7826 Suoth Highway 67. Public works phone: 303-660-7490.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.