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Trash, recycling & city upkeep

Dispose of Christmas trees

Philadelphia residents may dispose of their live Christmas trees curbside or recycle them. Trees placed curbside will be taken by the City as trash instead of being composted.

If you’d like to recycle your tree, you can:

  • Take it to a City-run drop-off site.
  • Take it to a community collection event.
  • Arrange for pick-up services.

Tree recycling: City-run drop-off sites

The Department of Sanitation Christmas Tree Recycling Program will take place Tuesday, January 2, 2024, through Saturday, January 13, 2024. While the program is running, you may bring your Christmas tree to one of several designated locations or to a sanitation convenience center.

Trees must be untied and have no decorations to make it easy to recycle them. Recycled trees are sent to a vendor that chips them up as a bulking agent for composting.

City-run drop-off sites

  • Drop-off location
  • Sanitation convenience center

Tree recycling: Community collection events

Several community groups accept Christmas trees for recycling. Before attending, confirm the event details with the group.

Community collection events

Organization Drop-off location Drop-off dates and times Donation amount
Passyunk Square Civic Association Columbus Square Park, corner of 13th and Reed streets Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $5 per tree
Philly Goat Project The Farm at Awbury, 6336 Ardleigh St. (at Duval) Saturdays, Jan. 6 and Jan. 13, 2024, 12 p.m.-3 p.m.
(rain dates: Sundays, Jan. 7 and Jan. 14)
$20 per tree
Philly Goat Project Laurel Hill West Cemetery, 225 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, 12 p.m.-
2 p.m. (rain date: Sunday, Jan. 21)
$20 per tree
South Philly Green Guerin Rec Center, 16th and Wolf streets Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, 12 p.m.-3 p.m. $5 per tree
South Philly Green Manton Green, 17th and Manton streets Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $5 per tree

Tree recycling: Private pick-up services

The following groups offer pick-up services for $15–$20 per Christmas tree:


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