Where to recycle your Christmas tree in the SF Bay Area
We put all this time and effort into selecting the right tree, setting it up in the perfect spot, and decorating it. But once Christmas has come and gone, then what? Before you kick it to the curb, make sure you know your options (and the rules) for Christmas Tree Recycling. Read on to find great solutions in your neck of the woods, and in some cases, contribute to a few good causes while you’re at it!
Remember: Remove all Christmas Tree Lights & Decorations
It's probably pretty obvious, but be sure you've removed all the decorations, lights, and tinsel from your tree before recycling. Most services so not accept flocked trees—those are the ones sprayed with white, artificial snow. If you are unsure, check with your district at the link provided.
San Francisco Christmas Tree Pick Up
Place clean, unflocked trees next to your bins on your regular service day during the first 2 weeks of January. Be sure to remove all tinsel, decorations, plastic bags, stands, and lights. If your tree measures more than 6 feet tall, please cut it in half. Typically, collection begins the Mon. after New Year's Day
Online: sfenvironment.org
Marin Christmas Tree Pick Up
Marin County: Place clean, unflocked trees next to your bins, not in them, on your regular service day starting Jan. 2 through Jan. 13. Be sure to remove all tinsel, decorations, plastic bags, stands, and lights. If your tree measures more than 6 feet tall, please cut it in half. Marin Sanitary customers can also drop off up to two Christmas trees for free at the Marin Resource Recovery Center at 565 Jacoby St., San Rafael. Apartment managers should schedule a pickup day for their apartment complex. After Jan. 31, pickup or drop-off will cost a small fee. You can also find a list of Christmas tree drop-off locations at Zero Waste Marin.
Online: marinsanitaryservice.com
Mill Valley: Please put your trees out on the curb on any regular green Compost Cart day, beginning Jan. 2, 2023. We will not pick up trees left by garbage cans. Trees more than 5 feet tall must be cut in half. Put trees next to green cans. Homestead Valley customers without green cans can put their trees on the curb on a yard waste day.
Online: millvalleyrefuse.com
Novato: Trees will be picked up from the first week of Jan. on regular collection days. Place next to curb or cut and fit inside yard waste container. Remove all lights, tinsel, ornaments and stands. Flocked trees will not be accepted.
East Bay Christmas Tree Pick Up
Berkeley & Albany: Place clean, unflocked trees next to your bins on your regular service day during the first 2 weeks of January. Be sure to remove all tinsel, decorations, plastic bags, stands, and lights. If your tree measures more than 5 feet tall, (6 feet tall in Albany) in please cut it in half. After Jan. 31, trees will not be collected curbside, unless they are cut up and properly placed in your green waste cart. Call 311 if your tree is missed or if you have any questions.
You can also drop your tree off at the Berkeley Transfer Station at no charge during the month of Jan. After Jan., you can cut up your tree to fit in your plant debris cart, or you can bring it to the Transfer Station for a compost fee.
Dublin: Place your holiday tree at the curb by 5:30 a.m. on your regular service day the week after Christmas. A truck exclusively for recycling holiday trees will collect the trees. Only clean trees will be taken (no flocking or tinsel). Cut trees down to 4-feet or less in heigh and remove bases or stand. After that, trees will not be collected curbside, unless they are cut up and properly placed in your green waste cart.
Have a Non-Recyclable Flocked Tree or Trees with Tinsel?
Amador Valley Industries can pick up your non-recyclable holiday tree. Call 925-479-9545 to arrange for disposal of your flocked or tinseled tree. An additional fee may apply, unless you use one of the three Large Item Collections available to you per year at no cost.
Good to Know: Boy Scouts of America – Tree Recycling Fundraiser
For a donation of $10 donation per tree, local Boy Scout Troop 905 will pick up holiday trees from Dublin residents on Sun., Jan. 1, 2023. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, please visit https://www.dublintroop905.org after December 1, 2022. Reservations will be accepted through 3 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2022. Only clean trees will be accepted. No flocking or tinsel allowed. Please remove the tree base or stand.
Online: amadorvalleyindustries.com
Emeryville: Trees are collected curbside on regular collection days during the first two weeks of Jan. Place your tree at the curb next to your green waste, recycling and trash carts on your regular pickup day. Trees taller than 5 feet must be cut into lengths of 5 feet or smaller. Remove all tinsel, ornaments, nails and tree stands. Green trees only. Flocked trees will not be accepted.
Online: wm.com
Fremont: Remove all decorations, tinsel, lights, nails and tree stands prior to pickup or dropoff. Trees that have any of these items are not compostable. Trees that contain fire retardant or flocking are also not compostable. Curbside trees will be picked up the first two weeks of Jan. on your scheduled yard waste collection day. For trees taller than 6 feet, please cut in half.
Online: fremont.gov
Hayward:All properties are eligible for free pickup of holiday trees during the first two weeks of January. Only clean trees will be picked up; no flocked trees, stands or decorations. Trees must be cut to less than five feet.
Online: hayward-ca.gov
Oakland: Place clean, unflocked trees next to your bins on your regular service day during the first two weeks of January. Be sure to remove all tinsel, decorations, plastic bags, stands, and lights. If your tree measures more than 5 feet tall, in please cut it in half. Later in the month, trees will not be collected curbside, unless they are cut up and properly placed in your green waste cart.
Online: oaklandrecycles.com
San Leandro: Place your Christmas tree curbside on your regularly scheduled collection day during the first two weeks in Jan. Remember to remove all tinsel and ornaments, cut your tree down if it is larger than 6 feet and set it out on the curb with your yard trimmings cart for collection. Trees will be recycled into mulch for use in landscaping applications.
Online: alamedacountyindustries.com
How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree on the Peninsula
San Mateo County: Place trees curbside on normal day of your yard waste pickup during the month of Jan. Tree length maximum sizes vary depending on the recycling company. Most of the recycling companies do not accept flocked trees. Residents without regular trash pickup can drop off their trees at several locations.
Online: cityofsanmateo.org
How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree in the South Bay
Campbell & Los Gatos: West Valley Collection and Recycling will pick up trees on the curb during regular service until mid-Jan. Trees must be less than 5 feet tall and placed at least 1 foot from carts.
Online: westvalleyrecycles.com
Unincorporated Cupertino: Place clean, unflocked trees next to your bins on your regular service day during the month of January. Be sure to remove all tinsel, decorations, plastic bags, stands, and lights. If your tree measures more than 6 feet tall, please cut it in half. Leave by the curb, or in the green bin if the lid can close.
Online: recologysouthbay.com
Los Altos: Place clean, unflocked trees next to your bins on your regular service day during the month of Jan. Be sure to remove all tinsel, decorations, plastic bags, stands, and lights. If your tree measures more than 6 feet tall, please cut it in half. Leave by the curb, or in the green bin if the lid can close. Apartment residents should place all trees in a central location and call to arrange a pickup.
Online: recologysouthbay.com
San Jose: Recycle your holiday tree on your regular collection day starting after Christmas throughout the month of Jan. Trees should then be cut into 5-foot lengths and placed in the street one foot from the curb and 5 feet from your garbage and recycling carts and parked vehicles. Natural and flocked trees accepted. If you live in an apartment, townhouse or condo, ask your property manager if special arrangements have been made for recycling holiday trees on-site.
Online: sanjoseca.gov
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