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December 31, 2025

Letter from the Mayor

Dear Washingtonians,

We had some big wins in 2025, we overcame some big challenges, and for the next 12 months, I’m looking forward to running through the tape with all of you. We still have a few more big swings to take, a few more promises to keep, and a lot more wins to deliver for DC. 

EOY Video [ [link removed] ]

I hope to see you tomorrow morning at the Fresh Start 5K [ [link removed] ]. We will kick off festivities at 9:00 a.m. with on-site registration, the Kids Dash at 10:15 a.m., and then the full 5K at 11:00 a.m. We’ll have warming stations available along the route, but please be sure to dress warmly.

For this year’s 5K, it only made sense for us to be at the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge – a symbol of what is possible in our city and an iconic representation of both our past and our future.  

Have a safe and happy New Year, and I’ll see you in 2026! 

Sincerely,

Muriel Bowser
In This Week's Newsletter:

* Christmas Tree Collection Begins Friday, January 2 [ #link_4 ]
* Applications Open: Fort Dupont Ice Arena Grants [ #link_3 ]
* #BeDowntown: January Jazz Jam at Union Station [ #link_5 ]
* Reminder: Trash Collection Slides for New Year's Day [ #link_1 ]
* Leaf Collection Update: Second Pass in Section A Starts Monday [ #link_2 ]

Christmas Tree Collection Begins Friday, January 2
Holiday Trees

The Department of Public Works' (DPW) annual Christmas tree and holiday greenery collection will begin on Friday, January 2, 2026 and run through Saturday, February 28. Residents who live in DPW-serviced homes and buildings should place their trees and greenery curbside, either in front of their home or in the tree box, for collection. Trees and greenery collected between January 2 and February 28 will be turned into mulch for distribution to residents throughout 2026. 
 
What residents need to know about the 2026 tree and greenery collection: 


* Collection is for DPW-serviced households: Residents who receive collection service from DPW (single-family homes and apartment buildings containing three or fewer housing units) are eligible for holiday tree and greenery collection. Households not serviced by DPW (for example, larger apartment buildings) should consult with their landlord/property owner for collection procedures. 
* Where to place trees and greenery: Residents should place their trees and greenery in the tree box area or curbside in front of their home. 
* Remove decorations: When setting these items out for collection, residents should remove all ornaments and lights. Do not place trees and greenery in a bag.  
* Trees and greenery collected during this time will be utilized for mulch production to support Mayor Bowser’s Zero Waste initiative. 
* If trees and greenery are not picked up 7 days after being placed curbside, residents can call 311 and make a “Christmas Tree Removal - Seasonal” service request. 
* After February 28, 2026, holiday trees and greenery should be placed at the normal point of collection for trash and recycling. Holiday trees and greenery will be collected as space permits in the truck.
* Inclement weather may delay holiday tree and greenery collections. 

All residents can also drop their holiday trees and/or greenery at the following locations from January 2, until February 28, 2026, Monday through Friday:  


* 201 Bryant Street NW (Roll off Box), 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 
* Guy Mason Recreation Center, 3600 Calvert Street NW, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
* 2700 South Capital Street SE (Roll off Box), 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

For more information on Holiday Reduce & Reuse Tips, please visit zerowaste.dc.gov/Holiday [ [link removed] ]. 

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Applications Open: Fort Dupont Ice Arena Grants
FDGrants

New grants from the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) are available to support high-quality recreational and competitive programming at the new Fort Dupont Ice Arena [ [link removed] ]. Organizations may apply for grants of up to $235,000 to offer ongoing activities such as learn-to-skate, figure skating, hockey skills, broomball, and competitive youth hockey teams. Funded programs must provide at least 24 hours of programming per week for 36 weeks; one-time events are not eligible.  


* *Applications Due: *Monday, January 5 at 4:00 p.m.
* *Learn more: *dpr.dc.gov/page/dprgrants [ [link removed] ] 

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#BeDowntown: January Jazz Jam at Union Station
January Jazz Graphic

Bring some music to your commute with January Jazz Jam at Union Station! Free live instrumental jazz every Tuesday and Wednesday in January will transform the station into a welcoming space for travelers. Catch performances by local favorites like the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Jazz Combo, the Herb Scott Trio, MilesDevon Music, and the Wesley Biles Trio. 


* *When*: Tuesdays and Wednesdays in January, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
* *Where*: The Stage at Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE 
* *Learn more*: here [ [link removed] ] 

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Reminder: Trash Collection Slides for New Year's Day
New Years Trash Graphic

The DC Department of Public Works (DPW) will not collect household trash, recycling, and food waste on Thursday, January 1. Trash and recycling collections will “slide” for the remainder of the week into Saturday. For example, households that normally receive trash and recycling collections on Thursday will be serviced on Friday. Leaf collection will operate on schedule.   


* *Learn more about modifications to District services *here [ [link removed] ]

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Leaf Collection Update: Second Pass in Section A Starts Monday
section a part 2

The second pass of leaf collection in Section A starts Monday, January 5. Rake your leaves into the tree box or curb in front of your home. Paper bags are welcome if you’d like, but please don’t use plastic bags, as they can’t be composted. Check your collection section [ [link removed] ] and sign up for updates [ [link removed] ] to stay informed. 

*Section A: Rake out by Sunday, January 4!* 

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Mayor Muriel Bowser

John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW | Washington DC, 20004

(202) 727-2643

[email protected] | mayor.dc.gov [ [link removed] ] | @mayorbowser

 



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