How to dispose of a Christmas tree
Need your city's January Christmas-tree pickup date?
Type your ZIP at /check for the verified local schedule and the nearest drop-off. Free.
Real trees: city curbside pickup
Most U.S. cities run a January tree-collection program on the regular yard-waste or trash day. The schedule usually runs the first 2-3 weeks of January, and some cities go through the end of the month. Check your city's sanitation page for the exact dates. The tree needs to be at the curb the morning of pickup. Some cities want it in a compostable bag, but most accept it loose.
Real trees: county mulch drop-off
County compost programs accept trees as a year-round drop-off, not just in January. Useful if you miss the curbside window or live in a rural area without curbside pickup. Bring the tree to the designated drop-off site, and they grind it into wood chips for parks and landscaping.
Real trees: community Boy Scout pickup
Boy Scouts of America troops run tree-pickup fundraisers in many U.S. metros. Sign up online in early January. They pick up your tree from the curb for a $10-25 donation (it supports the troop). Often more reliable than city pickup on scheduling.
Real trees: fish habitat and wildlife programs
The Departments of Natural Resources in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Texas, and several other states collect Christmas trees for sinking in lakes as fish habitat. These drop-off programs run early in January. Check your state DNR website. The trees become spawning and cover habitat for fish.
Artificial trees
Artificial trees are not recyclable (mixed plastic and metal structure). Working artificial trees can be donated to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Habitat ReStore in the off-season (January through October), when seasonal items move slowly. Broken or unsalvageable artificial trees go in regular trash. Trees over 6 feet may need bulk-pickup scheduling.
Step-by-step
- 1. Remove everything. Lights, ornaments, garland, hooks, the tree stand, and the tree skirt. Cities reject trees with decorations because they jam mulching equipment.
- 2. Check if it is flocked. Flocked (sprayed-snow) trees often cannot be composted. Check your city. Some send them to landfill instead.
- 3. Check the pickup date. Most cities post the January tree-collection calendar in mid-December. Pickup is usually within 2-3 weeks of Christmas.
- 4. Curbside placement. Out by 7am the day of pickup. Loose is fine in most cities. Some want a compostable bag.
- 5. Missed the window? Most county compost sites accept trees year-round. Drive over and drop it off.
- 6. Look up your local option. Try /check with your ZIP for the verified local schedule.
Frequently asked
When does my city pick up Christmas trees?
Most U.S. cities run tree collection for 2-3 weeks starting the first regular trash day after Christmas. Exact dates vary, and many cities post the calendar in mid-December. Some cities go through the entire month of January. Check your city's sanitation page, or use ClearPath /check with your ZIP.
What do I do if I miss the curbside window?
Most county compost and yard-waste sites accept trees year-round as drop-off. Drive your tree to the nearest site. Some cities also extend pickup by a week or two on request. Call your city's public-works line.
Can I cut up my Christmas tree and put it in yard waste?
Yes, in cities that allow yard waste in compostable bags. Cut it into pieces small enough to fit (usually under 3 feet). Some cities do not accept tree trunks in regular yard waste because the trunks are too dense for their composting equipment. Check the rules.
What about flocked trees (sprayed snow)?
Flocked trees often cannot be composted because the flocking material clogs mulching equipment. Most cities send flocked trees to landfill instead. Check your city's rules. Some accept them in regular bulk pickup but not in curbside tree collection.
How do I dispose of artificial Christmas trees?
Working artificial trees can be donated to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Habitat ReStore. The best chance of acceptance is in the off-season (January through October). Broken artificial trees go in regular trash. Large trees may require bulk-pickup scheduling. Artificial trees are not recyclable (mixed plastic and metal).
Do I need to remove the stand?
Yes, always. Tree stands are typically plastic or metal, and they jam composting equipment. Also remove all lights, ornaments, garland, tinsel, and the tree skirt. Some cities reject trees with even a single ornament left on.
Find your local tree collection
We give you the specific January pickup schedule and the year-round drop-off sites.
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