Once the presents have been opened and the holiday festivities are over, your live Christmas tree might be wilting in a corner of your living room. Consider these easy options for disposing and recycling of your tree through local municipalities. (Story updated December 17, 2024)
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The City offers Christmas tree recycling at three locations–Forest Park, O’Fallon Park, and Carondelet Park–from December 26 through January 9. Drop off your bare tree, no trash bag or covering necessary, at no fee during park hours. The trees will be recycled into mulch and made available to city residents at the same sites. Wreaths and pine roping are not accepted.
Here are the specific drop spots:
Forest Park: Lower Muny parking lot (off Theatre Drive)
O’Fallon Park: Recreation Complex (YMCA) Southwest corner of parking lot
Carondelet Park: Grand and Holly Hills (area between gate next to mulch piles)
Be sure to confirm hours of operation as the drop-off area is 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 teamed up with the Missouri Department of Conservation again this year to put retired trees to good use. The MDC will lower some trees into Spanish Lake to create fish habitats, while others will be turned into mulch. Only trees from residential homes are accepted. Drop off undecorated, natural Christmas trees at one of four park locations from December 16 until 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 offers free recycling of live Christmas trees throughout the first two weeks of January on regularly scheduled yard waste days of the week. Trees must be free of lights, decorations, and bags. Trees more than six feet tall should be cut in half prior to being placed at the curbside. For questions, contact your local Republic Services customer service representative at 636-255-6142 (Monday through Friday) or 636-947-5959 (Saturday).
St. Charles County Department of Public Health provides drop-off sites for natural Christmas trees at its Recycle Works locations in St. Charles (60 Triad South) and Wentzville (2110 East Pitman). Undecorated trees should be brought to either Recycle Works location, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, December 26 through January 17 (closed January 1). The Recycle Works locations area also accepting Christmas tree lights for recycle. For more information, call 636-949-1800. In addition, two more locations are open this year to receive natural, undecorated Christmas trees in St. Charles County: Quail Ridge Park (group area picnic parking lot) at 560 Interstate in Wentzville, from December 26 through January 12; Founders Park at No. 7 Freymuth in Lake St. Louis, from December 26 through January 12.
Christmas trees will be collected with regular yard waste pickup at no additional charge during the first two weeks of January. The tree must be free of decorations including tinsel, garland, ornaments, and lights, as well as cut shorter than four feet in length.
Republic Services will pick up Christmas trees during the month of January on yard waste service days. Trees must be free of all décor and cut into four-foot sections or less.
Christmas trees are picked up at the curb on regularly scheduled yard waste collection days through the month of January. All trees six feet and taller must be cut in half. After January 31, trees must be cut into four by two feet bundles tied and left for regular pick up in the rear of your home.
Real trees will be collected on regular yard waste pickup dates providing the tree is free of decorations including tinsel, garland, ornaments, and lights.
Yard waste, including live Christmas trees, is collected at the curb on your regular yard waste day. Christmas trees must be cut into four-foot sections and free of lights and decorations.
The City of Ferguson offers tree recycling after the holiday at its Christmas Tree Drop Off Site, located at the Forestwood Sports Complex, 825 Ferguson Ave. from December 26 through January 31.
The City of Florissant’s Christmas Tree Disposal Program includes curbside pick-up of real Christmas trees during the holiday season and through the month of January free of charge to Florissant residents, regardless if they have weekly yard waste service. Place your tree at the curb on the day of regular yard waste pick-up for your neighborhood. Trees must be free of garland, tinsel, lights, and ornaments. If the tree is taller than six feet, it must be cut in half. Additionally, non-functioning holiday lights may be disposed of at the Health Department building in St. Ferdinand Park. There will be a large tote outside of the building to dispose of lights for recycling until January 15, 2025.
The Glendale Public Works department will be accepting Christmas trees for recycling in their upper lot (east side of the main lot), January 1 through 31.
Free curbside pickup in January. Just remove decorations—no plastic bags.
The City collects Christmas trees during the month of January. The trees should be placed curbside and collection will be Citywide as weather permits.
Curbside pick up of Christmas trees occurs during the first two weeks of January on regular collection days with lights and decorations removed.
Whole Christmas trees will be picked up during the months of December and January on regularly scheduled pickup day. All other months, yard waste restrictions apply.
Wildwood
Scheduled pick up of Christmas trees, January 1 to January 30, is free to all Wildwood residents. Schedule yours by calling Waste Connections at 636-321-2100.
