Free wood and mulch available for Port Huron residents

Now that the summer heat is hopefully behind us, the cooler temperatures make great weather for that last-minute outdoor yard work. If you are a Port Huron resident and have been wanting to redo your home’s landscaping or are in need of mulch or wood for fall bonfires, you’re in luck.

Throughout the year, the City of Port Huron Forestry Division offers wood and mulch free of charge to Port Huron residents, but on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the department is hosting a one-day event for distribution on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Parks Department working to plant a tree.Steve Stager, City of Port Huron Cemetery and Forestry Supervisor, says the program both gives back to the community and helps offload material from the Forestry Division. This past summer, the Blue Water Area saw several powerful storms that damaged or destroyed many trees across the community.

“This is the wood that was damaged up from our park that we brought back to our yard and stacked it,” Stager says. “We were trying to figure out a way to be cost-effective of getting rid of it, and figured we’d try giving it away to city residents if they were interested.”

The tree trunks and limbs were cleaned up by an outside vendor, which turned the storm damage into mulch. Wood and wood chips are distributed upon availability on a first-come, first-serve basis year-round. They are distributed Monday through Friday at 2:30 p.m. from the Forestry Warehouse located at 3663 10th Ave. Appointments can also be made by phone at (810) 984-9709.

“We have a waiver that residents need to sign saying that we’re not responsible for any damage done to vehicles while loading the materials. They just come, sign the waiver, and we’ll load it up. They can come back as many times as they want from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Stager says. “We’ll have somebody here in a backhoe to help load it. They're allowed one load of wood for the day, but they can get as much mulch as they want.”

Proof of residency is required and pickup trucks and trailers are recommended for loading materials.

Stager says the Department also offers a free brush drop-off throughout the year. The Brush & Branch Collection is a service in addition to the weekly yard waste program. At no charge, residents are welcome to drop off brush at the Parks Warehouse from March to October on the last Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For questions, contact the Forestry Division at (810) 984-9709.