Scroll down this page for local Connecticut recycling and responsible disposal options for holiday waste, from Christmas trees and wreathes, to lights, ornaments, wrapping and packaging. Many towns and cities offer curbside collection, even for Christmas trees. Counties and unicorporated areas typically have a number or drop-off locations.
Christmas trees are usually colllected from December 26th through
the first 2 or 3 weeks in January. Whether your tree is picked up from
your curb,
or you drop it off, be sure to remove all
remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands, other
NON-Organic decorative materials and other materials that are not part
of the original tree. This includes tree stands also. Flocked trees are
occasionally accepted (call to verify), but not artificial trees. Large trees (larger
than the standard 6 - 7 ft tree) may need to be cut in half to
be acceptable by your
curbside garbage hauler.
The trees and wreathes are usually chipped and made into a mulch
which is often made available, free to city or county residents.
Recycling other items:
Always follow the links (usually the blue, underlined name of the city or county) below for updated information, as these agencies often wait until the last minute to change dates or update their information.
If your area is not specifically mentioned below, call your trash collection
agency and ask!
Connecticut: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays January 2024
- Allwaste Christmas tree Pick Up Schedule for many towns in Connecticut for
other towns: Trees should be placed at the curb the evening before it is due to be removed. Reminder: Late put outs are a $25 charge to go back.
2023 dates are:
GLASTONBURY: JANUARY 2 - 6 ON YOUR PICKUP DAY
SOUTHINGTON: JANUARY 9 - 13 ON YOUR PICKUP DAY
MARLBOROUGH/HEBRON: JANUARY 16 - 17 ON YOUR PICKUP DAY
SIMSBURY: JANUARY 23 - 27 ON YOUR PICKUP DAY
HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS: Schedule through
the Sales Department for JANUARY 19
MILESTONE: January 4 or 6 on the regular service day
ON CALL PICKUPS FOR THE DAY WE ARE IN TOWN:
ANDOVER: January 16th
CROMWELL & EAST HAMPTON/MIDDLE HADDAM/COBALT: January 18th
Late put outs are a $25 charge
The Townships provide service in all other areas.
- Bolton, CT - Christmas Tree Disposal reminder to all
residents: Christmas trees will NOT be picked up curbside with your
refuse and recycling. Residents may dispose of their Christmas trees
until the end of January by taking them to the designated area at
Herrick Park.
OR on Saturday, January 7, 2023; (check with them the date has NOT be confirmed yet) the Bolton Scout Troops 73 & 1073 will do a Christmas Tree Pickup. This is an opportunity to help
support your local BSA Scout Troops by making a donation of any size to the troops and, in exchange, scouts will dispose of your tree. Scouts and
their families will pick up your tree and take it to the town designated area at Herrick Park. Please call 860-614-7629 or email
[email protected]. to get on the list for pickup and specify payment.
method.Place your Christmas trees on the curb the night before.
- Bristol, CT - Each year after the New Year holiday, the City of Bristol will
collect Christmas trees for approximately two weeks. Place trees
curbside by 6 am on your regular rubbish collection day.
Note: Trees must have all tree stands, lights, ornaments, and tree
bags removed. Placement: Remember to keep your Christmas tree (or
any other object or container) at least five feet from your city
rubbish barrel as well as five feet between other barrels if you
place more than one curbside.
- East Hartford - (860) 291-7374. The Public Works Department will pick up natural Christmas trees that are placed at the curb next to trash containers for a two-week period from
Monday after Christmas through Friday, January 6, 2023, weather-permitting. Collection of the trees generally occurs on the same day as trash
collection. Trees should be placed on the curb near trash bins with no plastic bags or decorations., Should the
curbside collection fall behind schedule due to snow or unforeseen
circumstances, residents are asked to leave trees at the curb
instead of removing them and putting them out again the following
week. Trees must be removed from plastic bags and be free of any
decorations. Please note that this collection does not apply to
plastic, metal or faux Christmas trees. Residents are also
encouraged to bring their Christmas trees to the transfer station on
Ecology Drive for disposal. Residents are not required to have a
bulky waste permit to dispose of Christmas trees. Normal transfer
station hours are 7:15 AM to Noon and 12:30 to 2:45 PM on Monday,
Tuesday and Friday and from 8 am to 1:45 PM on the first and
third Saturdays of the month, holidays excluded. Residents may call
291-7363 with questions about any aspect of the Town's solid waste
program.
- Hamden, CT - Christmas trees are collected curbside for chipping in
January and February. Hamden Public Works will begin curbside pick-up of Christmas trees on the second Monday in January. Trees should be free of
all wrappings, lights and decorations. Pick-up will be town-wide. Residents may also take their discarded trees, both real and artificial, to the
Transfer Station at 231 Wintergreen Ave. See the Hamden, CT Transfer Station for more
information and contact Public Works at (203) 287-2600 with any further questions.
- Milford, CT - The Milford Public Works Department will pick up Christmas trees again this year. However, the Mayor is encouraging residents to recycle their
trees. Anyone wishing to recycle trees can bring them to the Walnut Beach or Tri-Beach Parking Lots presumably on the second Saturday in January
(January 7,, 2023 (as of
Dec 22, no is update on their website) from 9:00 a.m. to
1:00 p.m. The Department of Public Works will be there to chip the trees. For those residents who choose not to recycle their trees, the Public
Works Department will pick up Christmas trees throughout the month of January. Uncut trees should be left at curbside and all plastic wrapping
should be removed from the tree. In the past, they have instructed that Trees must
be cut into lengths no longer than four feet or they will not be
picked up.
- Montville, CT - Christmas/Holiday Tree: On the second Saturday of January, trees will be picked up curbside. Trees must be free of ornaments, tinsel, lights,
etc., and must NOT be in a bag of any kind. Please have curbside by 6 am
- New London, CT - The solid waste and recycling division
of public works provides weekly curbside collection of refuse,
recycling, and seasonal waste (leaves, holiday trees).
All refuse
and recycling containers must be curbside by 8 amon the first 2 Wednesdays in January after New Year's Day.
The green
city refuse containers should be placed within 2 feet of the curb
and at least 3 feet away from all obstacles, including your recycle
bin, vehicles, telephone poles and street signs.
If you have more
than one 90 gallon city refuse container please allow for a minimum
of 3 feet between the containers so that pick up can happen without
any problems.
-
Norwalk, CT - For Residents who receive City
Services Christmas Tree Collection Schedule during the month of January Christmas Tree Collection: NO PLASTIC BAGS OR
DECORATIONS. Trees will be collected twice during the month of
January, the 2nd and 3rd weeks of January. Have trees curbside by 6 AM on the MONDAY of the above
collection weeks. The yard waste site will
be open during the second and third weeks in January for Christmas tree and yard waste drop off.
- Vernon, CT - Christmas trees will be collected curbside the
first TWO full weeks after the New Year's holiday, weather
permitting. Trees are chipped into mulch. The trees will NOT be picked up by the refuse or
recycling trucks but will be collected by a separate vehicle. Place
trees at least 5 feet away from refuse and recycling containers. All
decorations, including tinsel, must be removed from trees because
the trees are recyclable and will be chipped. In addition, trees are
NOT to be put in plastic bags. Christmas trees can also be disposed
of at the Transfer Station during the month of January. There will
be a designated area for trees and a permit & punchcard are not
required for Christmas tree disposal.
- West Hartford, CT - The annual Christmas tree collection program by the Paine's will begin on the first Monday in January (after New Year's Day) and run
through Friday in mid-January. Please put tree on curb by your designated trash day on week two. DPW workers will make two sweeps through town.
Trees are turned into wood chips so please remove all decorations, lights and plastic bags. No fake trees. No bags! Please help us during snow
storms by removing trees from the side of the road. Crews cannot dig out trees buried under snow. Residents may also bring their trees to the town
Recycling Center at 25 Brixton Center Monday-Friday, 7 am to 4:30 pm. Permit required. Please note, there are no weekend hours at the Recycling
Center until April. Please call the Department of Public Works at 561-8100 if you have any questions.
- Westport, CT -
Recycling page
. Unfortunately, Westport has published NOTHING about what to do with your tree online. You'll have to call the Department of Public Works
at 203-341-1120. Possibly, the Transfer station could tell you: The Westport Transfer Station is located at: 300
Sherwood Island Connector. The telephone number is 203-341-1120. (If you find out, let me know!) Alternatively, Westport residents are welcome to
take their own trees to the town's yard waste site at 180 Bayberry Lane for disposal.
IF YOU ARE A CURRENT CUSTOMER OF
Malone's Refuse
(203) 222-0091, they say "We will be picking up Christmas trees FROM OUR CUSTOMERS beginning on the first Wednesday in January and continuing on Wednesdays throughout
January and February, weather permitting. The extra charge for the collection and disposal
of your tree(s) will be added onto your next invoice. Christmas trees: We will be collecting Christmas trees for an extra charge starting in
January. Once your Christmas tree is actually outside and ready to go, please email ([email protected]
) or call the office to let us know; please do not ask to be put on the list until your tree is outside. We will then put you on the list and your
tree will be picked up sometime within the next 3 weeks (weather permitting).
- Windsor Locks - The Department of Public Works will
pick up discarded LIVE Christmas trees placed at the curb beginning
the first Monday, of January. Call Public Works with questions. 860-627-1405.The
collections will continue town-wide during the month of January.
Residents are reminded not to place trees in the roadway, remove all
decorations and tree stands and do not place on the curb if a
snowstorm is expected the following day. Please call the office and
let us know when your tree has been placed outside for pick up;
860-627-1405 xt. 200 or press ZERO to leave a message. All American
Waste: Phone: 860-289-7850
