How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree
What Should You Do With Your Christmas Tree After Christmas?
Once Christmas is over, your real Christmas tree doesn't necessarily need to end up in general household waste.
Real Christmas trees can often be recycled through local Christmas tree collection services, council recycling schemes or designated drop-off points. Depending on the scheme, collected trees may be chipped or processed for another use.
Before recycling your tree, remove all decorations, lights, tinsel and the tree stand.
The recycling options available vary by location, so always check the current guidance from your local council or recycling provider.
How to Dispose of a Real Christmas Tree
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1. Remove Everything From the Tree
Remove lights, decorations, tinsel, hooks, ribbons and any other non-organic material from your Christmas tree.
Remove the tree from its stand before recycling.
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2. Check Your Local Recycling Service
Check your local council website for seasonal Christmas tree recycling collections or designated drop-off locations.
Collection arrangements and accepted tree sizes vary between areas.
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3. Prepare Your Tree for Collection
Follow the instructions provided by your local recycling or collection service. Some services require trees to be left at a designated collection point or prepared in a particular way.
Christmas Tree Collection & Recycling
Many councils and local organisations operate Christmas tree recycling schemes after the festive season.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to arrange a collection or take your tree to a designated recycling point.
Because services can change from year to year, we recommend checking the latest information for your area rather than relying on arrangements from a previous Christmas.
Can Christmas Trees Be Recycled?
Yes. Real Christmas trees are biodegradable and can be accepted by many seasonal recycling schemes.
What happens to the tree after collection depends on the recycling provider. Trees may be chipped or otherwise processed rather than being disposed of as general household waste.
Always remove decorations and other non-organic materials before handing your tree over for recycling.
What About a Pot-Grown Christmas Tree?
A living pot-grown Christmas tree is different from a cut tree.
If your tree remains healthy after Christmas, you may be able to continue caring for it outdoors rather than disposing of it.
The appropriate next step depends on the tree, its condition and how it has been cared for while indoors.
Before You Recycle Your Christmas Tree
- Remove all Christmas decorations
- Remove lights and electrical decorations
- Remove tinsel, ribbons and hooks
- Remove the Christmas tree stand
- Check whether your recycling service has size restrictions
- Follow the collection or drop-off instructions for your area
Don't bag or cut the tree unless the collection provider specifically tells you to do so.
Planning for Next Christmas
The end of one Christmas season is already part of the next one at our Surrey farm.
While mature trees leave the farm for customers' homes, younger Nordmann Firs continue growing through the seasons ahead.
Christmas tree farming works over several years, with trees at different stages of growth being cared for across the farm.
Christmas Tree Recycling FAQs
Can I put my Christmas tree in my household bin?
Disposal rules vary by local authority. Because real Christmas trees can often be accepted through seasonal recycling schemes, check your council's guidance before putting your tree into general household waste.
Will my council collect my Christmas tree?
Many councils provide seasonal Christmas tree collection or recycling services, but arrangements vary by location and year. Check your local council's current guidance for collection dates and instructions.
Do I need to remove decorations before recycling my tree?
Yes. Remove lights, decorations, tinsel, hooks, ribbons, the tree stand and other non-organic materials before recycling your Christmas tree.
Can a real Christmas tree be recycled?
Real Christmas trees can be accepted by many recycling schemes and may be chipped or otherwise processed after collection. Check the requirements of your local service.
What should I do with a pot-grown Christmas tree after Christmas?
If your pot-grown tree remains healthy, it may be possible to continue caring for it outdoors rather than disposing of it. Avoid treating a living pot-grown tree in the same way as a cut Christmas tree.
How can I keep my Christmas tree fresh until it's time to recycle it?
Keep a cut tree supplied with water throughout its time indoors and away from strong heat sources. Our Christmas Tree Care Guide explains how to care for your tree throughout the festive season.
Christmas Tree Care from Delivery to Recycling
From choosing the right tree and keeping it watered to recycling it after Christmas, our Christmas Tree Care Guide covers the complete festive-season journey.