Christmas Tree Disposal
Many communities offer curbside pickup of Christmas trees after the season is over. Check with your local waste management department for guidelines and collection dates. Here are some general tips on how to dispose of a Christmas tree:
- Remove the tree stand, tree skirt, ornaments, tinsel and lights before throwing out your fresh Christmas tree.
- Have a bucket nearby to collect the water left in the tree stand.
- Consider wearing work gloves to keep sap off your hands.
- Protect your floors by placing the tree in a plastic tree bag or wrapping it in an old blanket or sheet to take it outside.
- If necessary, arrange for pickup by your local yard waste management program.
- If your community offers curbside Christmas tree disposal, check pickup timelines and carry the tree to the curb. Don’t block the sidewalk or road.
- Unbag or unwrap the tree before pickup, depending on the procedure for your area.
Depending on the Christmas tree pickup or disposal guidelines for your area, you might need to:
- Cut the tree into 4-foot portions for easy collection.
- Cut smaller trees into chunks to fit inside your yard waste container.
Don’t wait for your tree to dry out before removing it. As a tree dries out, it’s more likely to become a fire hazard.
Never burn a Christmas tree in your fireplace or stove. Evergreens contain high levels of flammable turpentine oils and may cause flare-ups and chimney fires. Avoid burning a tree in bonfires or fire pits. The needles create excessive sparks.
Christmas Tree Drop-Off and Recycling
If your community doesn’t offer curbside pickup, check with your local recycling or collection center to see if there are any free drop-off locations. Some centers recycle Christmas trees by chipping and shredding them for use as mulch in community parks and playgrounds or for erosion barriers in lake and river shoreline management programs. Some coastal municipalities use whole trees to help form or stabilize sand dunes.
A flocked Christmas tree, one that’s covered with a white powdery mixture made to look like snow, often isn’t recyclable and it can’t be used for mulch. Some communities don’t accept flocked trees for disposal, so be sure to check with your local waste management department for guidelines.
Christmas Tree Recycling for the Home and Landscape
With a little imagination, you can find ideas for recycling a Christmas tree yourself. For example:
- Backyard Pond Habitat: Sink pieces of your tree into a backyard pond on your property as a refuge and feeding area for your fish.
- Bird House: Stand your tree or a few of the larger branches in your backyard as an organic feeder and sanctuary for birds. Place pinecones filled with peanut butter and birdseed in the branches along with strung popcorn and fresh orange slices. The birds will appreciate the food, and you can enjoy some great winter birdwatching from your window.
- Mulch: Use a wood chipper to reduce the trunk and branches to mulch for your landscape. You can also place entire branches under trees and shrubs as temporary winter mulch.
- Christmas Tree Decorations: Cut pieces of this year’s tree to use as ornaments next year. Dried slices of the trunk create a blank canvas you can decorate and string with a piece of ribbon.
- Coasters: Cut, dry, sand, stain and seal discs from the tree trunk to use as coasters.
Wear safety gear, such as safety glasses and hearing protection, when cutting or chipping your tree.
Christmas Tree Cleanup After Removal
Once you’ve removed the Christmas tree for disposal or recycling, it’s time to clean up:
- Since needles can clog and damage a vacuum cleaner, sweep with a broom and dustpan.
- Clean your floors to remove any sap.
- Check for damage to your flooring from overwatering or spillover from the tree stand.
- Deep clean carpets or steam them if necessary, to remove any mildew caused by spills.
Artificial Christmas Trees: Alternatives to Yearly Disposal
If you want to avoid yearly Christmas tree disposal, consider an artificial tree for next year. Available in a variety of styles and sizes, artificial trees eliminate watering and simplify cleanup. Plus, pre-lit trees with hinged branches make decorating easy. See our guide on choosing an artificial tree to learn about the options.
Artificial Christmas Tree Disposal
While they don’t require yearly disposal, at some point you might need to know how to dispose of an artificial Christmas tree. Don’t just throw an artificial tree away or leave it at the curb. Waste management programs often consider artificial Christmas trees to be bulky items with specific pickup procedures. Check with your municipality or waste management company for bulky item collection schedules, drop-off areas and guidelines.
Tips to Remember When Disposing of a Christmas Tree
When the holiday season is over, there are several possible ways to dispose of or recycle a fresh Christmas tree responsibly:
- Check with your municipality for collection procedures and timelines.
- See if your municipality recycles Christmas trees into mulch.
- Recycle a tree as mulch or use it to make ornaments, coasters and more.
- Never burn a Christmas tree in a fireplace, fire pit or on a bonfire.
If you’re considering an artificial Christmas tree, shop Lowes.com by style, shape, size and more. Stop by your local Lowe’s next Christmas season. Our Red Vest associates can help you find the perfect fresh or artificial tree for your family and home.