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

Where and How to Recycle or Dispose of Christmas Trees in South Dakota after Christmas 2023 and in January 2024

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 not 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.

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

• Madison, SD
  The yard waste site is located on 456th Ave just North of the Waste Water Treatment Plant and is open year round, 24 hours a day. You can dispose of sticks, branches, leaves, Christmas trees, and pumpkins.
  
• Rapid City, SD
  Rapid City Christmas Tree Recycling Program
  The three locations are:
  - Entrance to the Rapid City Landfill 24/7 site: South Highway 79
  - West Boulevard North: Anamosa Street & Service Road West I-190
  - Fitzgerald Stadium parking lot: Sheridan Lake Road across from Sioux Park
  Please place trees in designated areas
  NO plastic bags, ornaments and lights
  Please remember to recycle the damaged Christmas light at any of the designated locations or simply place them in your blue bin.
  Residents may continue to bring Christmas trees, yard waste and branched to the Rapid City Landfill at no charge, Monday through Friday from 7 am to 4:45pm, Saturday 7 am to 2:45pm.
  If you have any questions, please contact the Rapid City Solid Waste Department Beth-Anne Ferley 605-355-3496
  And for Rapid City Christmas Light Recycling Program:
  During the week of Thanksgiving Christmas light recycling containers will be
  placed at various facilities throughout the city. These containers will be available through January. This is a project that is very simple, easy and will keep the lights out of the landfill and saves the
  metal.
  Facilities with Christmas Light Recycling Containers:
   Family Thrift Stores: 1516 East St Patrick St, 855 Omaha St, 751 Mountain View Road
   Boyd's~Baken Park: Entrance into Boyd's Liquor
   Public Safety Building: 300 Kansas City St
   Rapid City Library: 610 Quincy St
   CSAC Building - 300 Sixth St
   Journey Museum - 222 New York St
   Education Center: Rapid City Landfill
  
• Sioux Falls, SD
  Beginning Wednesday, December 26th, and continuing through Sunday, in mid-January, the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill will offer two sites for residents to drop off their real Christmas trees for free.
  1015 East Chambers Street, west of Cliff Avenue by the Household Hazardous Waste Facility and Public Works Street Division. Access is available from North Drive to East Ash Street to Chambers Street, and from North Cliff Avenue to Chambers Street. The driveway just north of the Household Hazardous Waste Facility is the only access point.
  100 North Lyon Boulevard, west of the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds. Access is available from West 12th Street to North Lyon Boulevard, and from West Madison Street to North Lyon Boulevard. The driveway north of the railroad crossing is the only access point.
  HOURS
  December 26th - Sunday, January 13 (closed New Years Day)
  Hours of operation are:
  Monday - Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm.
  Sunday: 12 noon to 5 pm
  PRICING
  There will be no charge for cars, pickups, full-size SUVs, vans, or two-wheel trailers.
  Larger loads, lawn service companies, and commercial businesses will not be accepted at the temporary drop-off sites and must go directly to the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill.
  Large loads and commercial loads will not be accepted and must go directly to the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill. The customer must remove all accessories from the Christmas trees, including lights, ornaments, decorations, and stands. Artificial trees, bags, leaves, rubble, or household garbage will not be accepted.
  For more information, please contact the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill at 367-8162.
  
• Watertown, SD
  Christmas trees stripped of all lights, ornaments, and decorations will be picked up for the two weeks following Christmas on normal collection days. Christmas trees should not be placed in plastic bags. Exact dates will be announced using local media. After this period, Christmas trees and appropriate tipping fee will need to be brought to the landfill by the resident.
  
• Yankton, SD
  The City of Yankton will have a one-time pickup of Christmas trees on Monday, in early January. The City is asking for Yankton residents to place Christmas trees by the front curb no later than 7:00 am on Monday, in early January, as there will be no Christmas tree pick up in alleys. In addition, there will be a Christmas tree drop-off point for Yankton residents at the after-hours yard waste location at the east gate of the Transfer Station Christmas trees can also be taken to the Yankton Transfer Station during regular business hours of Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 3:45 pm
  Phone: (605) 668-5251 email:[email protected] . Phone: (605) 668-5251
  

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