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How to recycle your Christmas Tree

Posted on 12/26/2018
Christmas Tree Recycling

LA Sanitation has curbside collection for Christmas trees to make it convenient to properly and safely recycle your tree. There are several options.

If your Christmas tree is too big to cut and place inside the green waste bin, simply place the tree next to your green waste bin on collection day.

How to Recycle your Christmas tree and put in the green bin:

  1. REMOVE all ornaments, decorations, tinsels and stand from the tree.
  2. CUT the tree into pieces, if needed, to fit into green bin.
  3. PLACE the tree pieces inside the green bin and put out for regular pick-up on collection day.

*Flock or artificial trees can’t be recycled, place them in the black container.

Collected Christmas trees will be recycled into compost and mulch that is available to residents for free.

Tree safety tips 
*Buy a freshly cut tree.
*Keep the tree no less than three feet from heat sources.
*Water the tree on a daily basis.
*Remove the tree from your home after Christmas or once it becomes dry. 

In addition, holiday wrapping paper, cartons, cardboard, Styrofoam® and other expanded polystyrene products, plastics and gift boxes are also recyclable and should be placed in the blue bin. However, it is illegal to place household hazardous waste, such as electronics (i.e. televisions and computers) and batteries into the collection bins. Please take those items to one of seven S.A.F.E. Centers for safe disposal and recycling. 

Multi-family Residential Recycling Program Participation 

Residents of multifamily buildings are requested to place their Christmas trees at the curbside on the collection day in your neighborhood. Whether you are serviced by LA Sanitation or a recycling service provider, we will pick up your tree on your neighborhood scheduled collection day. You can check for the collection day from our homepage. Please remove all ornaments, decorations, tinsel and the stand from the tree. Artificial trees and flocked trees cannot be accepted - please place them in your black bin.

Mulching Facilities

The following mulching facilities will accept trees until the end of January. Trees can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Holiday wrapping and packaging materials will not be accepted. Please remove all ornaments, decorations, tinsel and the stand from the tree prior to dropping it off. Artificial trees and flocked trees cannot be accepted - please place them in your black bin.

LOPEZ CANYON ENVIRONMENTAL AND EDUCATION CENTER
11950 Lopez Canyon Road
Lake View Terrace, CA 91342

HARBOR MULCH FACILITY
1400 N. Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731

One-day drop off at Recreation and Park locations

Christmas trees can be dropped off on Sunday, January 6, 2019 at six Recreation and Park locations from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Holiday wrapping and packaging materials will not be accepted. Please remove all ornaments, decorations, tinsel and the stand from the tree prior to dropping it off. Artificial trees and flocked trees cannot be accepted - please place them in your black bin.

Los Angeles Zoo Parking Lot
At Griffith Park, 
Junction of Golden State (5) and Ventura (134) Freeways

Baldwin Hills
Rancho Cienega Recreation Center
5001 Rodeo Road

Encino
Balboa Sports Center
17015 Burbank Boulevard

Rancho Park
Cheviot Hills Recreation Center
2551 Motor Avenue

Sunland 
Sunland Park
8651 Foothill Boulevard

Westchester
Westchester Municipal Building
7166 West Manchester Avenue

Fire Stations

The following fire station locations will accept Christmas trees until mid-January. They will not be accepting holiday wrapping and packaging material. Please remove all ornaments, decorations, tinsel and the stand from tree prior to dropping it off. Artificial trees and flocked trees cannot be accepted - please place them in your black bin.

FIRE STATION #3
108 N. Fremont Avenue, 90012 – Civic Center / Bunker Hill
(213) 485-6203

FIRE STATION #21
1192 E. 51st Street, 90011 – South Los Angeles
(213) 485-6221

FIRE STATION #28
11641 Corbin Avenue, 91326 – Porter Ranch
(818) 756-9728

FIRE STATION #29
4029 Wilshire Boulevard – 90010 – Hancock Park
(213) 485-6229

FIRE STATION #36
1005 N. Gaffey Street, 90731 - North San Pedro
(310) 548-7538

FIRE STATION #44

1410 Cypress Avenue, 90065 – Cypress Park 
(213) 485-6264

FIRE STATION #64
10811 S. Main Street, 90061 – South Los Angeles
(213) 485-6264

FIRE STATION #65
1801 E. Century Boulevard, 90002 – Watts
(213) 485-6265

FIRE STATION #77
9224 Sunland Boulevard, 91352 – Sun Valley
(818) 756-8677

FIRE STATION #81
14355 Arminta Street, 91402 - Panorama City
(818) 756-8681

FIRE STATION #88
5101 N. Sepulveda Boulevard, 91403 – Sherman Oaks
(818) 756-8606

FIRE STATION #94
4470 Coliseum Street, 90016 - South Los Angeles
(213) 485-6294

FIRE STATION #106
23004 Roscoe Boulevard, 91304 – West Hills
(818) 756-8606

For more information, please contact LA Sanitation's 24-hour Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489.