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

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


Where and how to recycling your Christmas tree after Christmas, by Territory and city.

Some non-profit organisations, like hospices and Boy Scouts, offer collection, pick-up, and recycling of Christmas trees stripped of all decorations, lights, etc. Please let me know if you know of any, and I will add them below!

If there is no defined programme in your area, and you subscribe to a green waste collection service, you can usually cut your tree up to fit completely inside the bin. Keep in mind, a branch that is more than about 10 centimetres thick will not compost. Instead, it needs to go through a chipping service rather than a composting service.

And you can always compost a Christmas tree in your garden.

New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Young

  • ACT - Several options are available
  • Canberra -
    Also see Transport Canberra and City Services.
  • City of Sydney - Kerbside collections
    Throughout the month of January trees are collected free kerbside, but you must first book online. You can also book to pick up old furniture, mattresses, whitegoods, electronics and more.
  • City of Melbourne - Kerbside collections
    Throughout the month of January trees are collected kerbside, but you must first book online.

Northern territory

Queensland

  • Brisbane -
    Residents should contact Real Christmas Trees to arrange a pickup. There is a fee for the service.

South Australia

  • Adelaide -
    Pickup and Disposal Christmas Trees After New Year. This for-fee service only picks up from residential addresses in the Adelaide suburbs. Please contact them by phone if it is more than 15km from the city centre. Pickup charges are for picking up the tree off at your address, and does not include taking down or dismantling the tree. They reserve the right to cancel the order if delivery address is too far or too difficult. See their website for setails and booking.

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

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