MONROE CO. – What would we do without evergreen trees to celebrate the winter holiday festivities? It certainly would not be as festive, but what do you do with the cut tree once the holidays are over – Recycle your holiday tree.
Drop your holiday trees off at any of the Waste Reduction District’s (District) recycling centers to be recycled. Trees are then chipped up and transformed into beneficial mulch. Otherwise, you can put cut trees in a brush pile, which serves as a sheltered area for wildlife. As the tree decomposes, it gradually returns valuable nutrients to the soil.
The District partners with Republic Services and Blue Stone Tree to recycle holiday trees from December 26, 2024, through January 11, 2025. All five District recycling centers will accept natural trees, wreaths, and garlands. Before dropping off trees for recycling, all decorations, including, but not limited to, ornaments, lights, artificial snow, garland, and tinsel, must be removed.
No Artificial trees will be accepted for recycling.
Community Outreach Coordinator Elisa Pokral reminds the public, “Real trees are a
renewable, recyclable resource.” As the National Tree Association reports, “Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead. North American rea
Christmas trees are growing in all 50 states and Canada. According to the U.S. Commerce
Department, “Eighty percent of artificial trees worldwide are manufactured in China.” Therefore, Pokral explains, “It’s best to purchase either a live tree to plant or a cut tree rather than an artificial tree.”
Trees will be accepted for recycling at the following locations during business hours between the dates of December 26, 2024, and January 11, 2025, as follows:
The South Walnut Recycling Center (3400 South Walnut Street) is open Tuesday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Rural recycling Centers are open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.:
- The Ellettsville Recycling Center, 6200 North Matthews Drive
- The Westside Recycling Center, 341 North Oard Road (off St. Rd. 48, west of 37)
- The Southside Recycling Center, 400 West Dillman Road (1/8 mile west of 37)
- The Northeast Recycling Center, 6015 East State Road 45, New Unionville, off E. Bethel Lane
You can find additional information on what to do with your holiday tree at this site.
Here are some other options.
- Mulch with pine needles
- Create a bird sanctuary with the boughs
- Insulate perennials with the boughs
- Edge your garden or walkways with the trunk
- Use small branches to support indoor potted plants or stake leggy seedlings.
- Shelter fish with branches
- Set a stage for containers with the trunk
- Make coasters and trinkets with the trunk
- Chip it and use it for added nutrients to the soil
- Feed a fire pit with boughs
- Stake your plants with smaller branches
- They forgot to list the 11th option, but Pokral says, “Create a brush pile with your tree or add it
to an existing brush pile on your property so it returns the nutrients to your yard. No cutting
is necessary. Otherwise, bring your tree to the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District
to be RECYCLED into mulch.”
For more information on recycling holiday trees, call the District at 349-2020 or refer to the
Waste Reduction District-Monroe County Facebook page and Twitter page.
