Christmas tree disposal — curbside pickup, drop-off sites and the rules
A real Christmas tree is easy to get rid of after the holidays: many cities pick trees up at the curb or run drop-off sites and turn them into mulch. The catch is preparation. Strip everything off, don't bag it, and check whether your city takes flocked trees — rules differ.
Short answer
- Remove everything: lights, ornaments, tinsel, hooks, nails and the stand.
- No bags. Programs such as San Diego's don't accept them.
- Flocked trees: some cities take them, some don't.
- Artificial trees aren't mulched — they go in the trash or to donation.
Find a drop-off near you
Enter your city or ZIP for the nearest compost and brush sites, many of which take trees after the holidays.
Getting the tree ready
Houston's program asks residents to remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands and other non-organic decorations, and notes that flocked, artificial or painted trees will not be recycled. San Diego takes both green and snow-flocked trees, but not artificial greenery, ornaments, tinsel, lights, stands, hangers or bags. The common ground: a bare, unbagged tree.
Curbside or drop-off
Programs run either at the curb, at drop-off sites, or both. Austin lets curbside customers leave trees out on their regular composting day starting December 26. Examples from sites we've verified:
- Dayton, Ohio: Christmas trees accepted year-round with yard waste.
- Flagstaff, Arizona: green waste, Christmas trees included, is free.
- Clearwater, Florida: $3 a load, up to 5 trees.
- Oregon City, Oregon: trees up to 12 feet, no flocking.
- Washington County, Utah: Christmas trees picked up with bulky items at no charge.
- Goffstown, New Hampshire doesn't pick trees up at the curb; they go to the transfer station.
Collection windows are often a few weeks in late December and January, and dates are set each season, so check your city's current notice.