Once the holiday season wraps up with New Years, you’ll begin packing away all the decorations for another year. If you bought a real Christmas tree, you would need to find a way to get rid of it. The good news is there are plenty of green options for Xmas tree disposal.
First things first, you will want to prep your tree for disposal.
- Remove all of your ornaments, lights, tinsel, and decorations.
- Layout a tarp or old sheet to catch most of the pine needle mess.
- Place tree on prepared surface and remove tree stand.
- Now you are ready to remove Xmas tree from your house.
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How to Dispose of Dead Christmas Tree?
There are a few different options, but the first and most convenient one would be your city’s annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program. Most municipalities offer a free tree pickup program, some beginning right after Xmas, and others beginning after the New Years’ holiday. You can check your local waste management website or give them a quick call to see if and when you can leave your old dried out tree out by the curb. Another option is to cut up the tree yourself and utilize your green yard waste bin curbside. Usually, these programs will send the trees to be shredded to create mulch, which keeps them out of landfills. Curbside disposal is the most convenient route, but if this isn’t an option for your tree waste, there are alternatives.
Where Can I Take a Christmas Tree for Disposal Near Me?
Christmas tree drop off locations may be available in your area, you can find this information on your city’s website or waste management. If you missed the window for curbside pickup or it is not offered in your area, you can still recycle your tree. Your nearest landfill or dump may be accepting trees into early January, which will be chipped and combined with food waste to make a fertile compost soil instead of ending up in a landfill.
Another option for Christmas tree drop off may include your local Home Depot retailer. Many locations accept old Xmas trees for recycling purposes beginning the day after Christmas. Not every Home Depot location offers this service, but you can quickly check with a phone call.
Can I Throw My Christmas Tree in the Dumpster?
Christmas trees are not allowed in your regular curbside waste bins. They are green waste and should be disposed of through your city’s Christmas Tree program or taken to a tree recycling drop site like a landfill or local retailer.
Why Should I Recycle My Xmas Tree?
Real Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means they can be recycled to create mulch and other useful products. Recycling is the better alternative to them resting in landfills, where it can take decades for it to decompose completely.
Where to Buy Christmas Tree Disposal Bags?
If you are transporting your old tree yourself, a tree disposal bag will come in very handy. A Christmas tree disposal bag can be purchased quickly online through Amazon or at any local Walmart, Home Depot, or Lowe’s. Tree disposal bags are essential large thick plastic bags that cover your dried-out tree and contain most, if not all, of the mess when removing and transporting your tree.
When Should I Get Rid of My Real Christmas Tree?
There is no hard rule on when to get rid of your real Christmas tree. Many people remove their tree right away after Christmas day, while others hang on to theirs through the New Year’s holiday. It’s really a personal preference. One thing to consider is the risk of Christmas tree fire once your beautiful green Christmas tree is dried up. A good rule of thumb is when the tree has lost its scent and needles begin to drop, it is time to consider removing this fire hazard relatively soon. Christmas tree fires cause an average of 3 deaths, 15 injuries, and $10 million in property damages annually.
