Tree Tossing 101 for 2026
How to get rid of your Christmas tree once the holiday has passed from the junk disposal experts at Junk.com.
How to Dispose of a Live Christmas Tree in 2025-2026
According to the National Christmas Tree Foundation, roughly 15,000 Christmas tree farms across the United States sell about 25-30 million live Christmas trees every year. Live trees are a festive and eco-friendly way to celebrate the season, provided you dispose of your live tree responsibly once the Christmas season is over.
Prior to disposing of your live Christmas tree, remove all non-organic decorations from the tree. This includes tinsel, ornaments, ribbons, and lights. Flocked live Christmas trees are typically not recyclable as the fake snow is made with harmful chemicals. Most municipals will refuse to recycle them.
Once the tree is bare, it’s ready for the after-Christmas life.
Check Your City’s Local Regulations: Every local area will have its own way of handling the influx of Christmas waste, including live Christmas tree disposal. Find your city’s web page for trash disposal and look up if they have special rules about live Christmas trees. Alternatively, check this blog to see if Junk.com has found the information for you. Please note that trees collected curbside are not necessarily recycled by city waste management.
Drop-Off Your Tree For Recycling: If you do not have a special curbside pickup, you might be able to take your live Christmas tree to a drop-off location in your area, depending on where your residence is. Drop-off locations may require you to show a government ID and proof of residence in the local area.
Mulch Your Christmas Tree: Able to rent your own woodchipper? Live Christmas trees make excellent mulch to use in your garden. Mulch can protect garden plants from frost and suppress the growth of weeds. You can also use evergreen mulch to create a natural compost.
Call Junk.com to Get Your Live Christmas Tree: Does hauling that cumbersome tree sound like a chore you’re not up for so soon after the holidays? Ask Junk.com to pick up your live Christmas tree. We’ll make sure it gets to the right place for responsible disposal.
How to Dispose of an Artificial Christmas Tree
Artificial Christmas trees are a great option for people who are allergic to the pollens, dusts, and molds that real Christmas trees carry. In addition, artificial Christmas trees can be reused year after year. When the artificial tree has served its final use in your home, whether you are upgrading to a new artificial tree, switching for a real Christmas tree, or the tree is now damaged, you will need to find a different disposal solution for your tree.
Donate Artificial Tree to Charity: If your artificial tree is still in usable condition and suitable for donation, then you can take it to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or another favorite local charity. You can also re-gift the used artificial tree directly to someone you know will appreciate it like a friend, family member, or neighbor.
Sell Your Artificial Tree: Trees that are in great condition could fetch you a few dollars for your post-holiday budget recovery plan. Try listing the item online on a site like Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp.
Salvage Your Artificial Tree Parts for Crafts: Trees that are in poor condition could be upcycled into new creations. Cut up the branches and make Christmas wreaths, garlands, or mini-trees.
Put Your Artificial Tree Out For Bulk Trash Pickup: Unfortunately, the vast majority of artificial Christmas trees are made of non-recyclable materials that are not biodegradable. If your artificial tree is too damaged to repair or would be of no use to another person, then you might have to check your local regulations on bulky pickup and drag it out to the curb.
Call Junk.com to Get Your Artificial Tree: No need to move your artificial tree or wait for a fleeting city pickup window, you can request a quick and easy removal with Junk.com.
Christmas Tree Disposal for 9 Major Areas in 2025-2026
When you’re getting rid of your 2025 Christmas tree, you can check this blog for information about disposal options provided by local waste management in 9 major U.S. areas. Remember, if you need a tree gone outside the regular pickup window or if drop-off is not an option for you, all of these major metroplexes are served by Junk.com. You could get rid of your Christmas tree as soon as today by using the online booking tool.
Christmas Tree Disposal in Dallas, Texas Area
Residents of Texas living in or near the DFW metroplex can find information about live Christmas tree disposal here. Junk.com proudly serves Dallas-Fort Worth and the surrounding area with fast and eco-friendly junk removal services, including Christmas tree disposal.
Dallas: Trees can be dropped off at the Bachman Transfer Station and the McCommas Bluff Landfill to be recycled into mulch until early February. Trees put out with Dallas brush and bulky item collection are not recycled.
Fort Worth: Trees under eight feet tall can be collected curbside in normal weekly yard waste pickup or taken to one of Fort Worth’s four drop-off stations (Brennan Dropoff Station, Southeast Dropoff Station, Old Hemphill Road Drop-off Station, or Hillshire Drop-off Station) to be recycled. Any trees that have decorations still on them will be trashed instead.
Arlington: Trees will be collected and mulched at the Arlington Landfill.
Plano: Trees can be dropped off at Old Shepard Place Park, Russell Creek Park, and Schell Park between December 26th and January 3rd for recycling.
Irving: Trees are collected and mulched at Cottonwood Creek Park, the Hunter Ferrell Landfill, Las Colinas Service Center, and Southwest Park. Christmas trees put out with curbside collection will not be recycled or mulched.
Frisco: Trees can be collected curbside and at the Environmental Collection Center. Trees over five feet tall must be cut into sections no longer than four feet and weighing less than 60 pounds each. Flocked trees cannot be accepted for recycling, call to schedule a bulk waste pickup.
Garland: Trees can be picked up with brush and bulky waste collection curbside or dropped off at the Wood Recycling Facility. You must unload the wood waste yourself.
McKinney: Tree collection provided curbside between December 26th and January 19th, Frontier Waste Solutions will pick up at residential homes. Trees can also be dropped off for recycling at Al Ruschhaupt Soccer Fields and Gabe Nesbitt Park. Flocked trees and trees with lights and ornaments must go to bulky item collection which is taken to the landfill.
Denton: Live Christmas trees are collected with brush collection. All brush must be cut into pieces less than six feet in length. Christmas trees can also be dropped off at the Denton Landfill.
Grand Prairie: Trees will be accepted for recycle at the Grand Prairie Landfill for up to two weeks after Christmas. Trees collected curbside will not be recycled.
Christmas Tree Disposal in Houston, Texas Area
Residents of Texas living in the Houston area can find information about live Christmas tree disposal here. Junk.com proudly serves Houston and the surrounding area with fast and eco-friendly junk removal services, including Christmas tree disposal.
Houston: Trees can be dropped off at the Westpark Consumer Recycling Center, one of the six Neighborhood Depository & Recycling Centers, or the Clear Lake Neighborhood Recycling Center.
Sugar Land: Trees can be placed out for collection on weekly green waste collection days.
Conroe: Residents must call Public Works for tree pickup at the curb.
Pearland: Trees must be dropped off at the Stella Roberts Recycling Center between December 25th and January 14th.
Pasadena: Trees can be dropped off at Eaton Blanche Park or Robinson Park from December 26th through January 2nd for recycling.
League City: Trees will be collected curbside beginning January 4th. All trees collected will be taken to the landfill.
Baytown: Trees collected with heavy brush, collection is once a month.
Galveston: Trees collected curbside on January 8th and 9th.
Texas City: Trees can be dropped off at Biosphere Recycling.
Missouri City: Trees can be dropped off west of the Animal Control Building through January 13th for recycling.
Christmas Tree Disposal in San Antonio, Texas Area
Residents of Texas living in the San Antonio area can find information about live Christmas tree disposal here. Junk.com proudly serves San Antonio and the surrounding area with fast and eco-friendly junk removal services, including Christmas tree disposal.
San Antonio: Trees can be dropped off at Culebra Road Drop-Off Center, Frio City Road Drop-Off Center, Rigsby Road Drop-Off Center, and the Bitters Brush Recycling Center from January 3rd through January 14th for recycling. Trees over six feet tall must be cut in half.
New Braunfels: Trees can be dropped off at City Recycling Center from December 27th through January 13th during operating hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Trees can also be collected curbside on Green Waste days, trees taller than 8 feet must be cut in half.
Schertz: Trees will be collected curbside January 8th through January 19th. Trees over six feet tall must be cut in half. After the collection period residents will have to call their tree in as a bulk trash pickup.
Seguin: Trees collected curbside after Christmas with regular trash pickup or with brush collection.
Boerne: The city will have two tree collection windows, the first between January 2nd and January 5th, and the second between January 22nd and January 26th. Residents must call and schedule their tree collection with the Customer Care and Billing office to be included in these windows. Another collection window will be performed by Waste Management (WM) between January 8th and January 12th, and trees will be collected curbside on the regularly scheduled trash day with no call required.
Converse: No curbside collection or special drop-off location listed.
Live Oak: Trees can be taken to a designated drop-off location across from the Municipal Pool and Clubhouse through January 29th.
Universal City: Trees can be dropped off at the Universal City Public Works Yard through January 12th.
Alamo Heights: No curbside collection or special drop-off location listed.
Pleasanton: No curbside collection or special drop-off location listed.
Christmas Tree Disposal in Boston, Massachusetts Area
Residents of Massachusetts near Boston can find information about live Christmas tree disposal here. Junk.com proudly serves Boston and the surrounding area with fast and eco-friendly junk removal services, including Christmas tree disposal.
Boston: Christmas trees are collected curbside from December 29th to January 9th. Trees must be placed on the curb by 6 a.m. on collection day.
Worcester: Trees will be collected at the drop-off locations at Milbury Street, Chandler Street, and Clark Street during operating hours. Trees dropped off when staff are not present will be considered illegal dumping. Only Christmas trees will be collected, no additional yard waste is allowed. Trees will not be collected curbside.
Springfield: Trees will be collected curbside from January 3rd through January 27th. Trees can be dropped off at the Bondi’s Island Landfill for recycling.
Cambridge: Trees are collected curbside until January 31st. Place bare trees at the curb by 7 a.m. Bare trees can also be dropped off at the Recycling Center on Hampshire St.
Lowell: Residents can drop their Christmas trees off at one of seven drop-off locations (Acre, Belvidere, Back Central, Centralville, Highlands, Pawtucketville, and South Lowell) until January 14th.
Brockton: Trees collected curbside from January 6th to January 13th. Trees in plastic bags will not be collected.
Quincy: Trees collected curbside from December 29th through January 9th.
Lynn: Trees collected curbside from January 6th through January 10th.
New Bedford: Trees collected curbside from January 9th through January 13th. Trees must be put out by 7 a.m. the weekday after trash and recycling day. All decorations must be removed. Property owners will be issued a violation if trees are put on the curb outside this window or with decorations still on them. Trees can be dropped off starting December 26th at E Rodney French Blvd, Brooklawn Park, and the Recycling Center.
Newton: Trees collected curbside the first two weeks of January. Trees must be put on the curb by 7 a.m. If curbside collection is missed, residents can request a pickup by calling customer services.Residents can also wait until April for yard waste collection.
Christmas Tree Disposal in Colorado
Residents of Colorado can find information about live Christmas tree disposal here. Junk.com proudly serves Colorado and the surrounding area with fast and eco-friendly junk removal services, including Christmas tree disposal.
Colorado Springs: Trees can be dropped off at six El Paso County locations (Baptist Road Trailhead, Falcon Trailhead, Cottonwood Creek Park, Martin 'Ed' Ragain Field, Rock Ledge Ranch, and Memorial Park)January 3rd, 4th, 10th, and 11th to be recycled through TreeCycle.
Denver: Trees can be dropped off at the Cherry Creek Transfer Station, Havana Nursery, and Central Platte Campus on weekdays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. during January for TreeCycle.Trees collected curbside will not be recycled.
Aurora: Trees can be dropped off between December 26th and January 6th at Del Mar Park, Saddle Rock Golf Course, and Olympic Park for recycling.
Fort Collins: Trees can be dropped off between December 26th and January 16th at Ewing Landscape Materials, City of Fort Collins: Timberline Recycling Center, and Larimer County Green Waste Program. Cost is $5 per tree plus a possible entry fee.
Greeley: Trees can be dropped off at the Greeley Organic Waste Center, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weather permitting. Closed on holidays.
Lakewood: Trees can be dropped off at Lakewood’s Greenhouse from December 26th to January 11th for recycling.
Westminster: Trees can be dropped off at the City Park Fitness Center for recycling.
Arvada: Trees can be dropped off at the Stenger Sports Complex between December 26th and January 19th from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for recycling. No additional yard waste accepted, and no business or commercial use permitted.
Centennial: Trees can be dropped off at Lookout Park, Piney Creek Hollow Park, and Willow Spring Service Center between December 26th and January 12th for recycling.
Boulder: Compost trees in curbside bin or drop them off at Wood and Yard Waste Drop-Off Center. Trees over six feet tall must be cut up.
Christmas Tree Disposal in Miami, Florida Area
Residents of Florida living in or near Miami can find information about live Christmas tree disposal here. Junk.com serves Miami and the surrounding area with fast and eco-friendly junk removal services, including Christmas tree disposal.
Miami: Trees can be dropped off at Trash and Recycling Centers for recycling. Trees will be collected curbside between January 8th through 19th and between January 22nd through February 2nd on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Place tree at the curb by Wednesday.
Hialeah: Trees collected curbside with bulk waste.
Miami Gardens: This city is in the Miami-Dade county service area and has the same collection and drop-off schedule as Miami.
Fort Lauderdale: Trees will be collected curbside from January 1st through January 20th and taken to a yard waste recycling facility.
Pembroke Pines: Trees can be dropped off at C.B. Smith Park or Brian Piccolo Sports Park & Velodrome through January 16th for recycling.
Miami Beach: Trees will be collected curbside on the second pickup day of the week through January. Trees can be dropped off at Terminal Isle or North Beach Composting Station.
Homestead: Trees must be disposed of through bulk waste pickup or with yard waste.
Doral: This city is in the Miami-Dade county service area and has the same collection and drop-off schedule as Miami.
Coral Gables: Trees collected curbside from December 26th through January 15th. Check local schedule for pickup window.
Pompano Beach: Trees collected curbside until January 15th. Trees can be dropped off at 2290 NE 5th Avenue.
Christmas Tree Disposal in Naples, Florida Area
Residents of Florida living in or around Naples can dispose of their live Christmas tree with their regular yard waste. Trees over 6 feet long must be cut in half.
This applies to all areas of Collier County including Naples, Golden Gate, Immokalee, Macro Island, Lely Resort, Ave Maria, Pelican Bay, Orangetree, Naples Manor, and Naples Park.
Junk.com serves Naples and the surrounding area with fast and eco-friendly junk removal services, including Christmas tree disposal.
Christmas Tree Disposal in Orlando, Florida Area
Residents of Florida living in or around Orlando can dispose of their live Christmas tree with their regular yard waste. Trees over 6 feet long must be cut in half.
This applies to all areas of Orange County including Orlando, Apopka, Alafaya, Pine Hills, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Meadow Woods, Winter Park, and Oak Ridge.
Junk.com serves Orlando and the surrounding area with fast and eco-friendly junk removal services, including Christmas tree disposal.
Christmas Tree Disposal in Chicago, Illinois Area
Residents of Illinois living in or around the Chicago metroplex can find information about live Christmas tree disposal here. Junk.com serves Chicago and the surrounding area with fast and eco-friendly junk removal services, including Christmas tree disposal.
Chicago: Trees can be dropped off at 27 locations throughout the city for recycling between January 3rd and January 17th.
Aurora: Waste-hauler Groot will collect trees curbside during the 1st and 2nd full weeks of January.
Naperville: Trees will be collected curbside the weeks of January 5th and January 12th.
Joliet: Trees collected curbside by Waste Management will be trashed. Trees can be dropped off at City's Public Works yard at 1203 Cedarwood Dr. for composting.
Elgin: Trees collected curbside on regular trash days from December 26th through January 16th. Trees will not be collected after January 16th.
Waukegan: Waste-hauler LRS will collect trees curbside from December 26th through January 25th.
Cicero: No curbside collection or special drop-off location listed.
Arlington Heights: Trees collected curbside from December 30th through January 10th.
Schaumburg: Trees collected curbside with yard waste throughout the month of January.
Evanston: Trees collected curbside between January 2nd and February 2nd on the resident’s normal trash day.
Christmas Tree Gone and Ready for the New Year
With the Christmas tree cleared away, you can reclaim your living room just in time for the new year. Don’t forget that Junk.com hauls all kinds of household and business junk including furniture, appliances, electronics, and more, all year round. You can get rid of your unwanted junk as soon as today when you use our online booking tool to schedule a no-obligation estimate.
Have a merry Christmas tree removal and a happy new year’s decluttering.
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