ENVIRONMENT

U.S. Cities Launch Post-Holiday Christmas Tree Recycling Programs

PUBLISHED Dec 25, 2025, 8:07 AM ET

Read, Watch or Listen

U.S. Cities Launch Post-Holiday Christmas Tree Recycling Programs

Media Bias Meter

Sources: 12

Center 92%

Right 8%

Sources: 12

United States: Cities and counties have launched free post-holiday Christmas tree recycling and disposal programs this season nationwide. Municipalities from Charleston, S.C., to Sioux Falls, S.D., and jurisdictions in Georgia, Idaho, Nebraska, Missouri, Texas, and Maryland offer curbside pickup, drop-off sites, and designated convenience centers between Dec. 26 and mid-February. Officials instruct residents to remove ornaments, lights, tinsel, and stands and to keep artificial trees separate; collected trees will be chipped into mulch, used for municipal landscaping, or sunk to create fish habitat. Programs exclude commercial sellers and may impose landfill fees. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

1991 — Keep Georgia Beautiful launches Bring One for the Chipper initiative.
Dec. 26 — Multiple municipalities begin free tree drop-off and collection windows.
Jan. 6 — Charleston begins its curbside tree collection program.
Jan. 31 — Several programs conclude and processed trees become available as mulch.
Feb. 14 — Some city curbside pickup windows (e.g., Charleston) conclude on Valentine’s Day.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 12
Right Leaning:: 1
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 11

Who Benefited

Residents who participate gain free, convenient disposal options and access to recycled mulch and ecological projects; municipalities and local environmental programs benefit from organic waste diversion, mulch supplies, and habitat-creation initiatives.

Who Impacted

Commercial tree sellers and businesses disposing large volumes of trees face landfill tipping fees or must use commercial disposal sites, increasing their operating costs compared with residential free programs.

Media Bias