How to Recycle or Dispose of Christmas TreesWhere and How to Recycle or Dispose of Christmas Trees in Connecticut 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.

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

  • Allwaste Christmas tree Pick Up Schedule for many towns in Connecticut for other towns: Trees should be placed at the curb the evening before it is due to be removed. Reminder: Late put outs are a $25 charge to go back. 
    2023 dates are:
    GLASTONBURY: JANUARY 2 - 6 ON YOUR PICKUP DAY
    SOUTHINGTON: JANUARY 9 - 13 ON YOUR PICKUP DAY
    MARLBOROUGH/HEBRON: JANUARY 16 - 17 ON YOUR PICKUP DAY
    SIMSBURY: JANUARY 23 - 27 ON YOUR PICKUP DAY
    HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS: Schedule through the Sales Department for JANUARY 19
    MILESTONE: January 4 or 6 on the regular service day
    ON CALL PICKUPS FOR THE DAY WE ARE IN TOWN:
    ANDOVER: January 16th
    CROMWELL & EAST HAMPTON/MIDDLE HADDAM/COBALT: January 18th

    Late put outs are a $25 charge
     The Townships provide service in all other areas.
  • Bolton, CT - Christmas Tree Disposal reminder to all residents: Christmas trees will NOT be picked up curbside with your refuse and recycling. Residents may dispose of their Christmas trees until the end of January by taking them to the designated area at Herrick Park.
    OR on Saturday, January 7, 2023; (check with them the date has NOT be confirmed yet) the Bolton Scout Troops 73 & 1073 will do a Christmas Tree Pickup. This is an opportunity to help support your local BSA Scout Troops by making a donation of any size to the troops and, in exchange, scouts will dispose of your tree. Scouts and their families will pick up your tree and take it to the town designated area at Herrick Park. Please call 860-614-7629 or email [email protected].  to get on the list for pickup and specify payment. method.Place your Christmas trees on the curb the night before.  
  • Bristol, CT - Each year after the New Year holiday, the City of Bristol will collect Christmas trees for approximately two weeks. Place trees curbside by 6 am on your regular rubbish collection day.
    Note: Trees must have all tree stands, lights, ornaments, and tree bags removed. Placement: Remember to keep your Christmas tree (or any other object or container) at least five feet from your city rubbish barrel as well as five feet between other barrels if you place more than one curbside.
  • East Hartford - (860) 291-7374. The Public Works Department will pick up natural Christmas trees that are placed at the curb next to trash containers for a two-week period from Monday after Christmas through Friday, January 6, 2023, weather-permitting. Collection of the trees generally occurs on the same day as trash collection. Trees should be placed on the curb near trash bins with no plastic bags or decorations., Should the curbside collection fall behind schedule due to snow or unforeseen circumstances, residents are asked to leave trees at the curb instead of removing them and putting them out again the following week. Trees must be removed from plastic bags and be free of any decorations. Please note that this collection does not apply to plastic, metal or faux Christmas trees. Residents are also encouraged to bring their Christmas trees to the transfer station on Ecology Drive for disposal. Residents are not required to have a bulky waste permit to dispose of Christmas trees. Normal transfer station hours are 7:15 AM to Noon and 12:30 to 2:45 PM on Monday, Tuesday and Friday and from 8 am to 1:45 PM on the first and third Saturdays of the month, holidays excluded. Residents may call 291-7363 with questions about any aspect of the Town's solid waste program.
  • Hamden, CT - Christmas trees are collected curbside for chipping in January and February. Hamden Public Works will begin curbside pick-up of Christmas trees on the second Monday in January. Trees should be free of all wrappings, lights and decorations. Pick-up will be town-wide. Residents may also take their discarded trees, both real and artificial, to the Transfer Station at 231 Wintergreen Ave. See the Hamden, CT Transfer Station for more information and contact Public Works at (203) 287-2600 with any further questions.
  • Milford, CT - The Milford Public Works Department will pick up Christmas trees again this year. However, the Mayor is encouraging residents to recycle their trees. Anyone wishing to recycle trees can bring them to the Walnut Beach or Tri-Beach Parking Lots presumably on the second Saturday in January (January 7,, 2023 (as of Dec 22, no is update on their website) from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Department of Public Works will be there to chip the trees. For those residents who choose not to recycle their trees, the Public Works Department will pick up Christmas trees throughout the month of January. Uncut trees should be left at curbside and all plastic wrapping should be removed from the tree. In the past, they have instructed that Trees must be cut into lengths no longer than four feet or they will not be picked up.
  • Montville, CT - Christmas/Holiday Tree: On the second Saturday of January, trees will be picked up curbside. Trees must be free of ornaments, tinsel, lights, etc., and must NOT be in a bag of any kind. Please have curbside by 6 am
  • New London, CT - The solid waste and recycling division of public works provides weekly curbside collection of refuse, recycling, and seasonal waste (leaves, holiday trees).
    All refuse and recycling containers must be curbside by 8 amon the first 2 Wednesdays in January after New Year's Day.
    The green city refuse containers should be placed within 2 feet of the curb and at least 3 feet away from all obstacles, including your recycle bin, vehicles, telephone poles and street signs.
    If you have more than one 90 gallon city refuse container please allow for a minimum of 3 feet between the containers so that pick up can happen without any problems.
  • Norwalk, CT - For Residents who receive City Services Christmas Tree Collection Schedule during the month of January Christmas Tree Collection: NO PLASTIC BAGS OR DECORATIONS. Trees will be collected twice during the month of January, the 2nd and 3rd weeks of January. Have trees curbside by 6 AM on the MONDAY of the above collection weeks. The yard waste site will be open during the second and third weeks in January for Christmas tree and yard waste drop off.
  • Vernon, CT - Christmas trees will be collected curbside the first TWO full weeks after the New Year's holiday, weather permitting. Trees are chipped into mulch. The trees will NOT be picked up by the refuse or recycling trucks but will be collected by a separate vehicle. Place trees at least 5 feet away from refuse and recycling containers. All decorations, including tinsel, must be removed from trees because the trees are recyclable and will be chipped. In addition, trees are NOT to be put in plastic bags. Christmas trees can also be disposed of at the Transfer Station during the month of January. There will be a designated area for trees and a permit & punchcard are not required for Christmas tree disposal.
  • West Hartford, CT - The annual Christmas tree collection program by the Paine's will begin on the first Monday in January (after New Year's Day) and run through Friday in mid-January. Please put tree on curb by your designated trash day on week two. DPW workers will make two sweeps through town. Trees are turned into wood chips so please remove all decorations, lights and plastic bags. No fake trees. No bags! Please help us during snow storms by removing trees from the side of the road. Crews cannot dig out trees buried under snow. Residents may also bring their trees to the town Recycling Center at 25 Brixton Center Monday-Friday, 7 am to 4:30 pm. Permit required. Please note, there are no weekend hours at the Recycling Center until April. Please call the Department of Public Works at 561-8100 if you have any questions.
  • Westport, CT - Recycling page . Unfortunately, Westport has published NOTHING about what to do with your tree online. You'll have to call the Department of Public Works at 203-341-1120. Possibly, the Transfer station could tell you: The Westport Transfer Station is located at: 300 Sherwood Island Connector. The telephone number is 203-341-1120. (If you find out, let me know!) Alternatively, Westport residents are welcome to take their own trees to the town's yard waste site at 180 Bayberry Lane for disposal.

    IF YOU ARE A CURRENT CUSTOMER OF Malone's Refuse (203) 222-0091
    , they say "We will be picking up Christmas trees FROM OUR CUSTOMERS beginning on the first Wednesday in January and continuing on Wednesdays throughout January and February, weather permitting. The extra charge for the collection and disposal of your tree(s) will be added onto your next invoice. Christmas trees: We will be collecting Christmas trees for an extra charge starting in January. Once your Christmas tree is actually outside and ready to go, please email ([email protected] ) or call the office to let us know; please do not ask to be put on the list until your tree is outside. We will then put you on the list and your tree will be picked up sometime within the next 3 weeks (weather permitting).
     
  • Windsor Locks - The Department of Public Works will pick up discarded LIVE Christmas trees placed at the curb beginning the first Monday, of January. Call Public Works with questions. 860-627-1405.The collections will continue town-wide during the month of January. Residents are reminded not to place trees in the roadway, remove all decorations and tree stands and do not place on the curb if a snowstorm is expected the following day. Please call the office and let us know when your tree has been placed outside for pick up; 860-627-1405 xt. 200 or press ZERO to leave a message. All American Waste: Phone: 860-289-7850

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