After the gifts are unwrapped and the holiday celebrations conclude, your live Christmas tree may be drooping in a corner of your living room. Explore these straightforward options for disposing of and recycling your tree through local municipalities. (Updated story on December 17, 2024)
The City provides Christmas tree recycling at three locations: Forest Park, O’Fallon Park, and Carondelet Park. This service runs from December 26 to January 9. You can drop off your bare tree—no trash bags or covers needed—at no cost during park hours. The trees will be repurposed into mulch and offered to city residents at the same locations. Please note that wreaths and pine garlands are not accepted.
Here are the designated drop-off locations:
Forest Park: Lower Muny parking lot (accessible via Theatre Drive)
O’Fallon Park: Recreation Complex (YMCA) Southwest corner of the parking lot
Carondelet Park: Grand and Holly Hills (between the gate next to the mulch piles)
Be sure to verify the hours of operation, as the drop-off area is located behind the gate:
Monday through Friday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturdays: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sundays: Closed
St. Louis County Parks has partnered again this year with the Missouri Department of Conservation to repurpose Christmas trees. The MDC will submerge some trees into Spanish Lake to create fish habitats, while others will be transformed into mulch. Only trees from residential homes are accepted. Drop off undecorated, natural Christmas trees at one of four designated park locations from December 16 through the end of the day on January 19.
Locations include:
Spanish Lake: Main parking lot by the lake
Creve Coeur Lake: Sail Boat Cove parking lot
Queeny Park: Corporate parking lot off Weidman near the Complex
Bee Tree Park: Lake parking lot
The City of St. Charles provides free recycling of live Christmas trees during the first two weeks of January on regularly scheduled yard waste days. Trees should be devoid of lights, decorations, and bags. If the tree exceeds six feet in height, it should be cut in half before placement at the curbside. For inquiries, reach out to your local Republic Services customer service at 636-255-6142 (Monday through Friday) or 636-947-5959 (Saturday).
The St. Charles County Department of Public Health has designated drop-off spots for natural Christmas trees at its Recycle Works locations in St. Charles (60 Triad South) and Wentzville (2110 East Pitman). Undecorated trees can be brought to either Recycle Works location between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, from December 26 to January 17 (closed January 1). Recycle Works locations are also accepting Christmas tree lights for recycling. For more information, call 636-949-1800. Additionally, two more sites are available this year for receiving natural, undecorated Christmas trees in St. Charles County: Quail Ridge Park (group area picnic parking lot) at 560 Interstate in Wentzville, from December 26 to January 12; Founders Park at No. 7 Freymuth in Lake St. Louis, from December 26 to January 12.
Christmas trees will be collected alongside regular yard waste during the first two weeks of January at no extra charge. Trees must be free of decorations, including tinsel, garland, ornaments, and lights, and should be cut to less than four feet in length.
Republic Services will collect Christmas trees during January on yard waste days. Trees must be completely devoid of decorations and cut into four-foot sections or shorter.
Christmas trees are collected curbside on regularly scheduled yard waste collection days throughout January. Any tree six feet and taller must be cut in half. After January 31, trees must be cut into four by two feet bundles, tied together, and left for regular pick-up at the rear of your home.
Real trees will be collected on the regular yard waste pickup dates, provided they are free of decorations such as tinsel, garland, ornaments, and lights.
Yard waste, including live Christmas trees, is collected curbside on your regular yard waste day. Christmas trees must be cut into four-foot sections and be free of lights and decorations.
The City of Ferguson provides tree recycling at its Christmas Tree Drop Off Site located at the Forestwood Sports Complex, 825 Ferguson Ave., from December 26 through January 31.
The Florissant Christmas Tree Disposal Program offers curbside pick-up of real Christmas trees during the holiday season and throughout January, free of charge for Florissant residents, regardless of weekly yard waste service. Place your tree by the curb on your neighborhood’s regular yard waste pick-up day. Trees must be stripped of garland, tinsel, lights, and ornaments. If the tree exceeds six feet, it should be cut in half. Additionally, non-functioning holiday lights can be disposed of at the Health Department building in St. Ferdinand Park, where a large tote will be available outside the building for recycling until January 15, 2025.
The Glendale Public Works department will accept Christmas trees for recycling in their upper lot (east side of the main lot) from January 1 to 31.
Free curbside pickup occurs in January, simply remove any decorations—no plastic bags, please.
The City collects Christmas trees throughout January. Place the trees curbside, and collection will occur citywide as weather permits.
Curbside pickup of Christmas trees takes place during the first two weeks of January on regular collection days, provided lights and decorations are removed.
Whole Christmas trees will be picked up during December and January on regularly scheduled pickup days. In other months, yard waste restrictions apply.
Wildwood
Residents of Wildwood can schedule a free Christmas tree pickup from January 1 to January 30 by calling Waste Connections at 636-321-2100.
