There will be no Christmas tree bonfire this year, or likely ever again, according to Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan.

The governor’s office confirmed to Vaughan that New Jersey Forest Fire Service Division will not give the borough a permit for the traditional bonfire, which in past years has been held to destroy Christmas trees.

“Permits for these things have been extremely difficult to get since they had some trouble in Vineland a couple of years ago,” Vaughan said.

A Vineland High School pep rally bonfire that utilized accelerants in November 2009. One fireman sustained minor injuries when putting out the fire.

The Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department will not collect the trees. Instead, the Department of Public Works will collect Christmas trees from the curb this week.

The trees will be taken to the borough's mulch area, behind Milton Avenue Elementary School, where they will all be placed in a woodchipper.

Township Tree Collection

Chatham Disposal, Inc. will collect Christmas trees from Chatham Township on Jan. 15. The trees must be at the curb.

Residents who wish to dispose of their trees before Jan. 15 can take them to the Tanglewood Recycling Center Tuesday and Saturday mornings.