How to Recycle or Dispose of Christmas TreesWhere and How to Recycle or Dispose of Christmas Trees in Georgia after Christmas 2023 and in January 2024

How to Recycle or Dispose of Christmas Trees

In many urban and suburban areas, Christmas trees are collected from curbside during the first 2 weeks in January. Be sure to remove all remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands, other NON-Organic decorative materials and other materials that are not part of the original tree. This includes tree stands also. Flocked trees are usually accepted, but not artificial trees. Large trees (larger than the standard 6 - 7 ft tree) may need to be cut in half to be acceptable by your garbage hauler. But scrroll down this page for more specific information and local links.

What happens to the trees? In most cases, the trees are chipped and made into a mulch which is usually made available, free to city or county residents. Important: Never burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove. Burning the tree may contribute to creosote buildup and could cause a chimney fire.

Tips: Always follow the links (usually the name of the city or county) below for updated information, as these agencies often wait until the last minute to change dates or update their information (it's government, remember?). If your area is Grinding Christmas trees into mulchnot specifically mentioned below, contact your trash collection agency and inquire!

Related information:

See this page for local options to easily recycle your Christmas holiday lights

If it has just snowed; see this page about how to make snocones from real snow! Your kids will love it!

Click here for the list of winter sleigh ride locations!

See our easy recipes to make a Chocolate Yule log and click here to make your own low-fat, low calorie but delicious Egg Nog ! Then come back to our other website in March to find a local Easter Egg Hunt for your children ! There are affiliate links on this page. Read our disclosure policy to learn more.

Georgia: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays January 2024

  • Statewide - ANYWHERE in Georgia! Bring One for the Chipper, the state's annual Christmas tree recycling program, invites Georgia residents to bring their trees to local drop-off centers on January 7, 2023 from 9 am to 4 pm. At many locations, Boy Scouts are on hand to help you quickly unload you tree.
    ---->Click here for the complete list of all locations, sorted by county
    Metro Atlanta Residents! Get FREE mulch delivered! Go here for order form and details .
  • Home Depot - On the second Saturday in January many locations statewide will take trees (you can have purchased your tree anywhere) for recycling. Atlanta area tree drop-off points for 2022 can be found on this list (PDF) . Verify by calling your local Home Depot - they often change at the last minute! Click here to find your local Home Depot store and their phone number.
  • Atlanta (City residents) Curbside Tree Disposal: The City of Atlanta Department of Public Works will collect and recycle your Christmas tree along with your yard trimmings. Please make sure that the tree does not include the following when placed curbside: Remove the base. Remove all lights and decorations. Do not place the tree in a plastic bag. Click here for locations, updated information and more details.
  • Alpharetta, GA
    On Saturday, January 7, 2023 from 9 am until 3 pm Alpharetta residents can bring their trees to The Home Depot located at 5300 Windward Parkway for recycling.
    Trees will be chipped into mulch by the Davey Tree Expert Company. Mulch is then used for public beautification projects and is available free to Alpharetta citizens. To request mulch, please fill out the request form on the City web site at www.alpharetta.ga.us.
  • Athens-Clarke County -  Saturday, January 7, 2023, from 9 AM to 1 PM.
    Citizens may bring their trees to a chipper location for a free tree seedling and seed packets.
    Chipper sites will also accept wreath metal and light strings.
    Roll Offs for undecorated trees will be available from December 26 to January 15, 2023.
    DROP-OFF LOCATIONS (open Jan 7, 9 AM to 1 PM)
    Sandy Creek Nature Center
    Chase Street Elementary
    Clarke Middle School
    NEW! UGA Veterinary Teaching Center
    RECYCLING CENTERS
    The Lexington Road Tag Office
    Winterville Public Works
    The Recycling Drop Site at the Mall
    The CHaRM ( See CHaRM hours)
    *Please note: Cofer's Home & Garden is no longer a Christmas drop off site.*
    Undecorated trees put out for leaf and limb will also be recycled. Check the Leaf & Limb schedule to determine the pick-up schedule for your zone! You can also drop off Christmas trees at the Athens-Clarke County Landfill for recycling free of charge. Recycling Centers are open December 25th to January 9th. These sites are unstaffed (except during the January chipping event), but you may deposit your tree in the specially marked rolloffs.
    Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful(706) 613-3501 ext. 309
  • Bartow County  - Click for the list of locations and dates
  • Bib County - Click for the list of locations and dates
  • Brunswick, GA
    All trees must be free of lights and ornaments. Drop off at designated locations from December 26 to January 8, 2023:
    Goodyear Park / Brunswick - 2209 Parkwood Drive
    Howard Coffin Park / Brunswick - 1430 Lanier Boulevard
    Orange Park / Brunswick - 2216 Reynolds Street
    Golden Isles Wood Products / Brunswick - 2950 Altama Avenue
    Old Demere Road / St. Simons Island - 1913 Old Demere Road
    Winn Dixie / Hwy 341 Brunswick - 5420 New Jesup Highway
    Fire Station Six / Exit 29 Brunswick - 3320 U.S. 17 South
    Tidelands Nature Center / Jekyll Island - 100 S. Riverview Drive
  • Clarke County - Click for the list of locations and dates
  • Cobb County - Free Christmas Tree Recycling at selected
    Phone: 770-528-1135 or Email:  [email protected].
    Home Depot and Parks Locations in Cobb County:
    Live undecorated Christmas trees will be accepted December 26  to January 7, 2023 FROM 9AM UNTIL 4PM at the following
    • 3355 Cobb Pkwy 770-917-8425
      Acworth, GA 30101
    • 1200 East-West Connector 770-941-9600
      Austell, GA 30106
    • 2350 Dallas Hwy 770-792-6858
      Marietta, GA 30064
    • 4101 Roswell Road NE 770-977-9700
      Marietta, GA 30062
    • 449 Roberts CT NW 770-424-1309
      Kennesaw, GA 30144
    • 3605 Sandy Plains Road 770-971-2470
      Marietta, GA 30066
    • 1062 Richard Sailors Pkwy 770-222-3619
      Powder Springs, GA 30127
    • 1655 Shiloh Road 770-421-1245
      Kennesaw, GA 30144
    And at this park only:
    Fullers Park
    3499 Robinson Rd
    Marietta, GA 30067

    Free mulch available after January 6th!
    For more information contact the Keep Cobb Beautiful Office at 770-528-1135 or [email protected] . Recycling trees creates mulch, fuel, wildlife habitats and other useful material.
  • Columbus, GA - Bring One for the Chipper Christmas Tree Recycling Project from December 26, 2022 to January 7, 2023 from 10 am to 3 pm. Drop off your live Christmas trees in these designated areas at the following locations:
    -Cooper Creek Park, 5089 Cooper Creek Parkway, 31907
    -Britt David Park, 5560 Armour Road, 31904
    -Shirley B. Winston Recreation Center, 3033 Steam Mill Road, 31907
    -Dinglewood Park, 1660 13th Street, 31901
    -Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center, 3535 South Lumpking Road, 31903
    You can also take your gift wrapping paper and gift boxes to one of the following recycling drop-off sites throughout the holidays:
    -Welcome Center, 1751 Williams Road, Columbus, 31909
    -Cooper Creak Park, 4816 Milgen Road, Columbus, 31907
    -Schatulga Road, 7160 Sacerdote Lane, Columbus, 31907
    -#25, 22nd Avenue (Off Victory Drive), Columbus, 31903
  • Decatur, GA - There is NOTHING on their website for Christmas 2022-2023. IF they do it as in the past - it should be - Christmas Tree Recycling from Tuesday, after Christmas January 7, 2023 from 9 am to 12 pm. City of Decatur residents can drop off live Christmas trees at the annual "Bring One for the Chipper" event at the Agnes Scott College parking lot between 184 and 206 S. Candler St. Please do not leave Christmas trees anywhere else on the Agnes Scott campus.  ll trees must be free of lights and ornaments.
    January 7, 2023 from 9 am to 4 pm 404-291-5478 Old Compost Area by Wiltshire Drive and Berkeley Road Signs posted by the lake will mark the drop-off location. Avondale Estates 30002
    January 7, 2023 from 9 am to 12 pm 770-451-8337 Chamblee Public Works Department 3210 Cumberland Drive Chamblee 30341
    TBD 404-771-5322 CHaRM Dekalb 1225 Columbia Drive Decatur 30032
    Be sure to call to confirm before you go
    , call 404-377-5571, Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4 pm.
  • Dekalb County - residents of the county who receive trash service from the county Public Works (not a city or private agency) may dispose of their Christmas tree curbside if the tree is less than four feet tall (or cut in half so both halves are less than 4 ft). Trees should be placed at the curb according to the schedule for yard debris pick-up. All decorations and lights must be removed before disposing of the tree.
  • Effingham County - Curbside collection in January
  • Forsyth County -
    Home Depot - 1000 Market Place Boulevard, Accepting trees only January 7, 2023, 9 am to 4 pm, Please, no trees at this site after 4 pm on January 7, 2023.
    Home Depot - 2635 Peachtree Parkway. Accepting trees only January 7, 2023, 9 am to 4 pm Please, no trees at this site after 4 pm on January 7, 2023
    Vickery Creek Elementary School - 6280 Post Road. Accepting trees December 26 through January 7, 2023, 9 am to 4 pm Please, no trees at this site after 4 pm on January 7, 2023.
    Tolbert Street Recycling Convenience Center - 351 Tolbert Street, Phone: 770-781-2176, open Monday to Saturday, 7:30 am to 5 pm . Accepting trees December 26 through January 26.
    Old Atlanta Recycling Convenience Center - 3678 Old Atlanta Road. Phone: 770-205-3010, open Monday to Saturday, 7:30 am to 5 pm Accepting trees December 26 through January 26.
    Coal Mountain Recycling Convenience Center - 3560 Settingd own Road. Phone: 770-781-2071, open Monday to Saturday, 7:30 am to 5 pm Accepting trees December 26 through January 26.
    Click here for locations, updated information and more details.
  • Fulton County - residents of the county who receive trash service from the county Public Works (not a city or private agency) may dispose of their Christmas tree curbside if the tree is less than four feet tall (or cut in half so both halves are less than 4 ft). Trees should be placed at the curb according to the schedule for yard debris pick-up. All decorations and lights must be removed before disposing of the tree.
    Some The Home Depot locations in North Fulton include (Click here for the complete list of all locations):
    870 Woodstock Road, Roswell 30075
    Sandy Springs Recycling Center, 470 Morgan Falls Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30350. We will accept trees at this location until January 17, 2022; When you come to drop off your tree, please pull through the back of the recycling center.
    The Home Depot, 6400 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 . (Many thanks to our volunteers from Cub Scout Pack 266)We will accept trees at this location until January 7, 2023
    The Home Depot , 5950 State Bridge Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097. (Many thanks to our volunteers from Boy Scout Troop 2000), We will accept trees at this location until January 7, 2023. We are not accepting fats, oils and greases or fluorescent tubes this year.
  • Gainesville, GA and Hall County - City of Gainesville residents can leave their trees curbside for pick-up, and Oakwood residents can drop their trees at the corner of Allen and Railroad streets. Mulch is offered at the Hall County Landfill free of charge Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3 pm., weather permitting. Officials ask that all trees be undecorated before drop off. Artificial trees will not be accepted.
    Trees may be dropped off at the following compactor sites between 7:30 am and 6:30 pm Monday through Saturday and from 11 am until 6 pm on Sundays:
    Candler Compactor - 5064 Poplar Springs Rd. Gainesville, Ga 30507
    Murrayville Compactor - 5113 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA 30506
    Lula Compactor - 6174 Lula Road, Lula, GA 30554
    Wauka Mountain Compactor - 5800 Brookton-Lula Road, Gainesville, GA 30506-2909
    Sardis Road Compactor - 3166 Brackett Drive Gainesville, GA 30506
    East Crescent Drive Compactor - 734 East Crescent Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501
    Gould Lane Compactor - 1277 Hillside Gardens Lane, Gainesville, GA 30504
    Tadmore Compactor - 3320 Holly Springs Road, Gainesville, GA 30507
    Balus Creek Compactor - 3845 Old Flowery Branch Road, Flowery Branch, GA 30566
    Blackshear Place Compactor - 2921 Atlanta Highway Gainesville, GA 30507
    Flowery Branch Compactor- 4395 Falcon Parkway Flowery Branch, GA 30542
    Gaines Ferry Compactor - 6173 Gaines Ferry Road Flowery Branch, GA 30542
    Trees may also be dropped off at the Hall County Recycling Center, located at 1008 Chestnut Street in Gainesville, Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4 pm.
  • Gwinnett County
    Christmas Tree Drop off Locations - Collection between December 26th to January 24, 2023
    Locations below only accept LIVE Christmas trees with NO ornaments, frosting, garlands, etc. These trees will be chipped into mulch on Saturday, in late January. To find out how to volunteer, click here.
    Buford
    Fire Station 14, 1600 Highway 23, 30518
    Fire Station 24, 2735 Mall of GA Blvd., 30519
    Fire Station 29, 2800 Thompson Mill Rd., 30519
    Dacula
    Fire Station 17, 2739 Brooks Rd., 30019
    Fire Station 27, 2825 Old Fountain Rd., 30019
    Duluth
    Fire Station 5, 3001 Old Norcross Rd., 30096
    Fire Station 7, 3343 Bunton Rd., 30096
    Fire Station 19, 3275 N. Berkeley Lake Rd., 30096
    Grayson
    Fire Station 8, 2295 Brannan Rd., 30017
    Hoschton
    Fire Station 18, 1515 Mineral Springs Rd., 30548
    Lawrenceville
    Fire Station 9, 1900 Five Forks-Trickum Rd., 30044
    Fire Station 10, 1131 Rock Springs Rd. 30043
    Fire Station 20, 1801 Cruse Rd., 30044
    Fire Station 25, 3575 Lawrenceville Hwy., 30044
    Fire Station 31, 1061 Collins Hill Rd. 30043
    Lilburn
    Fire Station 2, 12 Harmony Grove Rd., 30047
    Fire Station 3, 4394 Five Forks-Trickum Rd., 30047
    Fire Station 22, 2180 Stone Dr., 30047
    Loganville
    Fire Station 28, 3725 Rosebud Rd. 30052
    Fire Station 30, 1052 Ozora Rd., 30052
    Norcross
    Fire Station 1, 165 Lawrenceville St., 30071
    Fire Station 11, 5885 Live Oak Pkwy., 30093
    Fire Station 23, 4355 Steve Reynolds Blvd., 30093
    Peachtree Corners
    Fire Station 4, 5550 Spalding Dr., 30092
    Snellville
    Fire Station 6, 3890 Johnson Dr., 30039
    Fire Station 12, 2815 Lenora Church Rd., 30078
    Sugar Hill
    Fire Station 26, 6075 Suwanee Dam Rd., 30518
    Suwanee
    Fire Station 21, 474 Old Peachtree Rd., 30024
  • Liberty County - Click for the list of locations and dates
  • Macon, GA - In exchange for dropping off your Christmas tree for recycling, December 26 to January 2 at these Kroger locations:
    Kroger, 5928 Zebulon Road
    Kroger, 4321 Hartley Bridge Road
    Kroger, 4650 Forsyth Road
    Kroger, 400 Pio Nono Avenue
    Kroger, 220 Tom Hill Sr. Boulevard
  • Oconee County - Residents can take trees to many locations, including Harris Shoals Park or to Home Depot
    See the ad;
    Harris Shoals Park, 1160 Experiment Station Road, Watkinsville 30677 December 26th to January 7, 2023
    The Home Depot, 1740 Old Epps Bridge Road, Athens 30606 December 26th to January 7, 2023
  • Pickens County
    Saturday, January 7, 2023, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
    Drop off your undecorated Christmas tree for recycling at the Park'n Ride across from the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce Building in Newton Park (500 Stegall Street)
    FOR INFORMATION CALL: KeepPickensBeautiful, 706-253-3600, or visit us at www.keeppickensbeautiful.org or Face book.
  • Rabun County - Click for the list of locations and dates
  • Roswell, GA - Bring One for the Chipper on Saturday, January 7, 2023 from 9 am to 4 pm. at these 2 locations:
    Home Depot Market Boulevard: In parking lot in front of store
    Home Depot Woodstock Road across from Trader Joe's : Behind Garden Center - Boy Scout Troop 356 will be there to help you with your tree!
    Keep Roswell Beautiful is proud to host the annual Bring One for the Chipper Christmas tree recycling event. This past January, around 11,000 trees were recycled at the Home Depots on Woodstock Road in Roswell and on Holcomb Bridge Road in east Roswell. Recycling Christmas trees is sustainability in action. Not only does it keep those thousands of trees out of our landfills, it also saves taxpayers the cost of tree collection and disposal. And, thanks to Davey Tree Experts, the mulch generated from "treecycling" is FREE for any takers. While not double processed like "A" grade shredded mulch that you can purchase at nurseries and garden centers, recycled tree mulch is perfect for nature trails; large, areas of exposed soil; playgrounds; or as a base for landscape beds. So if you and your family are "real Christmas tree" enthusiasts, why not make plans to Bring One for the Chipper once you've taken the decorations down. It's the best way to get the most use out of your tree. If you would like to volunteer to help at one of our two (2) Roswell locations, click here or contact us at [email protected] .
  • Savannah, GA - The Savannah /Hilton Head International recycling lot on Aggett Drive. is sponsoring Bring One for the Chipper tree recycling from December 26 through January 7, 2023. This is the third year the airport has participated in the recycling program, which has been a holiday tradition in Georgia for more than 20 years and is the largest tree recycling program in the nation. The drop off site is located at the airport recycle lot on Aggett Drive. Residents are asked to remove all lights, string, wire, metal hooks, nails, ornaments, tinsel, fake snow and bags before dropping off trees. While there, they can also drop off holiday wrapping paper and cardboard in the nearby recycling container. The recycle lot is conveniently open to area residents year-round. Recycled trees will be ground into mulch to provide ground cover that reduces soil erosion, and conserves water in landscaping at the airport. Some of the trees will also be used in the numerous airport lake and pond habitats.
  • Valdosta, GA - Bring One for the Chipper, Saturday, January 7, 2022, from 9 am to 2 pm. Trees may be dropped off at the following sites, and you receive a free tree seedling (while supplies last):
    The Home Depot, at 1825 Norman Drive
    Wal-Mart Super Center, at 3274 Inner Perimeter Road
    Mathis Auditorium, at 2300 N. Ashley Street
    Call KLVB at 229-671-3698 for more information.


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