Christmas Tree Recycling Tips

With the holiday season wrapping up, the City of Windsor wants to help those with a real Christmas tree dispose of it responsibly when collections commence later this month.

Christmas tree and yard waste collections will take place the week of January 15, 2024, in “A” zones and the week of January 22, 2024, in “B” zones. (Look for the Christmas tree symbol in your waste collection calendar.) Trees are shredded into wood chips, so it is important to remember that only real trees (not artificial) will be recycled. Here are some additional tips to help us properly recycle your tree:

• Remove all decorations, lights, wire, tree skirts, stands and nails.
• Trees longer than 1.8 metres (6 feet) must be cut in half so that they fit in the truck.
• Your tree cannot be recycled/shredded if it has fake snow on it.
• Avoid using a plastic tree bag. If you do place your tree in a plastic bag to bring it to the curb, please remove the bag and throw it in the garbage prior to collection.
• Bundle loose branches (no longer than 1.22 metres or 4 feet) with cedar roping and place beside your Christmas tree.
• Take your tree to the curb only on your specially assigned collection day, as trees sometimes become frozen to a snow bank or to the ground if left out too soon.
• Leaves and other yard waste left over from your fall cleanup can also be placed out for collection on your designated Christmas tree pickup day. To increase collection efficiency, if possible, please put trees and yard waste at a common location with an adjacent neighbour, away from parked cars.
• Have Christmas trees and yard waste placed at your curb by 6:00 a.m. for collection.

If you require a collection calendar, or if you have any questions about Christmas tree/yard waste collection, visit www.CityWindsor.ca or contact 311. You can also download the Recycle Coach App.