Branching Out for a Cleaner Community

Turn Tree Trimmings into Wildfire Prevention During August 22 Event

The Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council, City of Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Resort, and SavATree are teaming up for a community event to provide free chipping of seasonal tree debris on August 22, 2026.

"The best time to start wildfire mitigation efforts on your property was about 10 years ago,” said Executive Director Josh Hankes with the Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council. “The next best time is now! Wildfire season is far from over, so we're thrilled to be a partner on an event that offers residents an opportunity to dispose of their hazardous slash for free."

Community residents (no commercial operators) can drop off tree debris (see guidelines and restrictions) to Steamboat Resort’s Meadows Parking Lot between 9 AM and 1 PM on Saturday, August 22, 2026.

SavATree will mulch the material, and chips will be made available to residents from the SavATree yard at no cost.

As recommended by the Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council, reduce your home's vulnerability to wildfire by removing anything combustible from the Home Ignition Zone, the immediate area around structures. That includes all vegetation, which can become the source of ignition and carry fire to your home or outbuildings. The goal is to prevent the structures from ever igniting!

Residents who do not take advantage of the event and have larger-diameter limbs or other materials will need to dispose of items by another means. Apex’s Milner Landfill is offering a “lower-than-landfill” rate for residents to divert yard waste at the organics area of the landfill at $55 per ton.

Seasonal Tree Debris Chipping - Community Event

 WHEN:                August 22, 2026, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

 WHERE:              Steamboat Ski Resort - Meadows Parking Lot - 2400 Pine Grove Rd

 WHAT:                Free Tree Debris Chipping (Residential only)

 GUIDELINES:   

 Materials:  Accepted materials include trees, tree branches, small diameter logs and brush (cut away from root mass).

 Restrictions:

·        No logs or branches with a diameter greater than 4 inches

·        No roots, rootwads, stumps or anything else that grows below the soil

·        No materials that contain dirt, sand, gravel or rocks

·        No construction, building or other man-made materials

·        No lumber, fence posts or signs

·        No materials that contain any metal (nails, screws, fencing), string or other man-made materials

·        No herbaceous / non-woody plant material