Los Angeles County, California: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays

 

Scroll down this page for local Los Angeles County, California 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 ofteny made available, free to city or county residents.

Ornaments and light strings are usually placed into your curbside collection bin.  Some localities have year-round collection centers. The same is true of wrapping paper and boxes.

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!

Los Angeles County, California: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays

 

Christmas Tree Recycling Programs Los Angeles County California

• For Los Angeles CITY residences see this page
   
• Los Angeles County areas - Many communities in the LA area offer curbside tree recycling.  Click the links below for details and information regarding Holiday tree recycling:

City	Curbside Collection	Drop-off Site (if any)	Website	Phone #	Special Instructions
AGOURA HILLS	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(805) 495-7521	Flocked trees are accepted.
ALHAMBRA	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(888) 742-5234	Place tree next to trash on regular collection day.
ARCADIA	12/30/20 - January 13, 2021	None	Website	(800) 266-7551	Flocked trees are not accepted.
ARTESIA	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(800) 826-8677	Flocked trees are not accepted. Trees over 6 ft. must be cut in half.
AVALON	December 26th to January 16, 2021	December 26th to January 16, 2021, Old Catalina Stable Station	Website	(310) 510-0240	Flocked trees are not accepted.
AZUSA	December 26th to January 9, 2021	None	Website	(626) 812-5225
BALDWIN PARK	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(626) 960-3993 X513
BELL	December 26th to January 9, 2021	None	Website	(800) 299-4898
BELL GARDENS	December 26th to January 7, 2021	December 26th to January 7, 2021 Bell Gardens Veterans Park: 6662 Loveland St. Public Works Yard: 8327 S. Garfield Ave.	Website	(562) 806-7770	Flocked trees are not accepted.
BELLFLOWER	December 26th to January 9, 2021	None	Website	(562) 920-4636 X810	Flocked trees are accepted.
BEVERLY HILLS	December 26th to January 22, 2021	None	Website	(310) 285-2467	Flocked trees are accepted.
BRADBURY	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(626) 359-3218
BURBANK	December 26th to January 15, 2021	December 26th to January 15, 2021 McCambridge Park: Parking lot on Andover Dr. Ralph Foy Park: Parking lot on Victory Blvd. Verdugo Park: Verdugo Ave. and California St.	Website	(818) 238-3800
CALABASAS	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(800) 675-1171
CARSON	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(310) 605-6000
CERRITOS	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(562) 916-1220
CLAREMONT	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(909) 399-5431
COMMERCE	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(562) 259-1239 Ext. 7	Do not bag tree. Trees over 6ft must be cut in half.
COMPTON	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(310) 605-5524
COVINA	December 26th to January 16, 2021	None	Website	(626) 384-5480	Place tree next to your trash on regular collection day.
CUDAHY	December 26th to January 11, 2021	None	Website	(323) 773-5143
CULVER CITY	December 26th to January 1, 2021	December 26th to January 1, 2021 Tree drop off bin: Fox Hills Park Syd Kronenthal Park Culver West Park Veterans Park	Website	(310) 253-6400
DIAMOND BAR	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(909) 839-7015
DOWNEY	December 26th to January 15, 2021	Tree drop off bin: City of Downey Maintenance Yard 12324 Bellflower Blvd.	Website	(562) 259-1239 Ext. 7	Flocked trees are accepted.
DUARTE	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(800) 325-9417
EL MONTE	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(626) 336-5439
EL SEGUNDO	December 26th to January 15, 2021	Maintenance Facility 150 Illinois St.	Website	(310) 524-2709	Flocked trees are accepted.
GARDENA	December 26th to January 16, 2021	Fukai Park: 15800 S. Brighton Ave. Johnson Park: 1200 W. 170th St. Rowley Park: 13220 S. Van Ness Ave.	Website	(310) 366-7600
GLENDALE	January 4, 2021 - 2/26/21	None	Website	(818) 548-3916
GLENDORA	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(888) 336-6100
HAWAIIAN GARDENS	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(562) 420-2641 x231
HAWTHORNE	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(888) 742-5234
HERMOSA BEACH	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(310) 318-0214
HIDDEN HILLS	December 28, 2020 to January 18, 2021	12/23/18 - 1/11/19 Bin at City Hall: Upper parking lot, 6165 Spring Valley Rd.	Website	(818) 888-9281
HUNTINGTON PARK	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(866) 699-7600
INDUSTRY	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(626) 855-5500
INGLEWOOD	December 26th to January 31st	None	Website	(800) 299-4898
IRWINDALE	December 26th to January 31st	None	Website	(626) 430-2211
LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE	December 26th to January /1 2021	None	Website	(818) 790-8882	Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. Flocked trees are accepted.
LA CRESENTA	December 26th to January 31st	None	Website	(800) 325-9417
LA HABRA HEIGHTS	December 28, 2020 to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(866) 238-2446
LAKEWOOD	December 26th to January 31st	None	Website	(562) 866-9771 X2140
LA MIRADA	December 26th to January 31st	None	Website	(562) 902-2385
LANCASTER	December 26th to January 31st	None	Website	(661) 947-7197
LA PUENTE	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(800) 442-6454	No flocked trees accepted. Trees over 6 ft. tall must be cut in half and placed on the curbside.
LA VERNE	12/26/21 - January 15, 2021	None	Website	(909) 596-8741
LAWNDALE	12/26/21 - January 15, 2021	None	Website	(800) 299-4898
LOMITA	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(562) 259-1239 Ext. 7
LONG BEACH	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(562) 570-2876
LOS ANGELES	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(800) 773-2489
LYNWOOD	December 26th to January 9, 2021	None	Website	(888) 467-7600	Remove ornaments, tinsel and stand before place curbside. Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. Flocked trees are accepted.
MANHATTAN BEACH	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(310) 830-7100	Flocked trees are accepted. Trees over 6ft. must be cut in half.
MAYWOOD	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(800) 299-4898
MONROVIA	December 26th to January 16, 2021	None	Website	(626) 932-5553
MONTEBELLO	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(323) 887-1200 x640
MONTEREY PARK	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(888) 336-6100
NORWALK	December 26th to January 16, 2021	None	Website	(562) 929-5964
PALMDALE	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(661) 947-7197
PALOS VERDES ESTATES	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(888) 336-6100
PARAMOUNT	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(562) 220-2027
PASADENA	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(626) 744-7311	Curbside pickup for Christmas trees will be available to Pasadena's solid waste customers on their regularly scheduled collection days and routes during the first two weeks each January. Christmas trees may be trimmed to fit in yard waste container (Black Lid) for recycling.
PICO RIVERA	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(562) 801-4388
POMONA	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(909) 620-2241
RANCHO PALOS VERDES	December 26th to January 16, 2021	None	Website	(310) 540-2977	Trees over 5ft must be cut in half. For more information contact your city
REDONDO BEACH	December 26th to January 22, 2021	None	Website	(888) 336-6100
ROLLING HILLS	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(800) 299-4898
ROLLING HILLS ESTATES	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(800) 744-0222
ROSEMEAD	12/30/20-January 11, 2021	None	Website	(800) 299-4898
SAN DIMAS	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(909) 394-6200	Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. Remove ornaments, tinsel and stand before placed at curbside.
SAN FERNANDO	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(818) 898-1293	For more information contact your city
SAN GABRIEL	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(626) 308-2825	For more information contact your city
SAN MARINO	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(888) 336-6100	For more information contact your city
SANTA CLARITA	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(661) 947-7197	For more information contact your city
SANTA FE SPRINGS	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(562) 868-0511
SANTA MONICA	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(310) 458-2223
SIERRA MADRE	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(888) 336-6100
SIGNAL HILL	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(562) 598-7351
SOUTH EL MONTE	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(626) 579-6540
SOUTH GATE	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(323) 563-5785
SOUTH PASADENA	December 26th to January 10, 2021	None	Website	(626) 403-7240
TEMPLE CITY	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(888) 336-6100
TORRANCE	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(310) 781-6900
VERNON	December 26th to January 15, 2021	None	Website	(323) 583-8811 x231
WALNUT	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(800) 442-6454
WEST COVINA	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(626) 939-8458
WEST HOLLYWOOD	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(323) 848-6404
WESTLAKE VILLAGE	December 26th to January 8, 2021	None	Website	(818) 706-1613
WHITTIER	December 26th to January 16, 2021	None	Website	(562) 567-9530

.

LOS ANGELES ZOO At Griffith Park, Junction Of Golden State (5) & Ventura (134) Frwys
ARLETA Branford Park, 13300 Branford Street
BALDWIN HILLS Rancho Cienega Recreation Center, 5001 Rodeo Road
BOYLE HEIGHTS Hollenbeck Recreation Center, 415 South St. Louis Street
CHATSWORTH Chatsworth Park South, 22360 Devonshire Street
ENCINO Balboa Sports Center, 17015 Burbank Boulevard
HARBOR CITY Harbor Regional Park, 25820 Vermont Avenue
HIGHLAND PARK Highland Park Senior Citizen Center, 6152 N. Figueroa Street

HOLLYWOOD Hollywood Bowl, 2301 North Highland Boulevard
RANCHO PARK Cheviot Hills Recreation Center, 2551 Motor Avenue
SUNLAND Sunland Park, 8651 Foothill Boulevard
SYLMAR Sylmar Park, 13109 Borden Avenue
WESTCHESTER Westchester Municipal Building, 7166 West Manchester Avenue 

 

LA Garbage Disposal Districts (GDDs) and Residential Franchise Areas

For the cities in the table below: Please remove all ornaments, tinsel, lights, nails, plastic containers, and plastic or metal tree stands. No trees wrapped in plastic. The Holiday trees can then be placed at curbside next to the recycling and waste containers on scheduled trash collection day during the time period noted.

Location	Curbside Collection	Instructions	Waste Hauler	Phone #
ALTADENA	December 26th to January 16, 2021	Place holiday tree at curbside on regular collection day; or the night before. Cut trees over 6ft. in half. No stands, ornaments or flocked trees.	Athens Services	1-888-336-6100
ATHENS/WOODCREST/OLIVITA GDD	December 26th to January 16, 2021	Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day. Remove all lights/decorations. Cut trees over 6 ft. in half.	Consolidated Disposal	1-800-299-4898
AVOCADO HEIGHTS	December 26th to January 16, 2021	Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day. Remove all lights/decorations. Cut trees over 6 ft. in half.	Athens Services	1-888-336-6100
BASSETT/VALINDA/SOUTH SAN JOSE HILLS	December 28th to January 15, 2021	Place holiday tree at curbside on regular collection day; or the night before. Cut trees over 6ft. in half. No stands, ornaments or flocked trees.	Valley Vista Services	800-442-6454
BELVEDERE GDD	December 26th to January 16, 2021	Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day.	Consolidated Disposal	1-800-299-4898
CHATSWORTH/WEST HILLS	December 26th to 1/8/21	Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. Place it in the green bin and it will be collected on regular collection day.	Waste Management	1-800-675-1171
CITRUS/CHARTER OAK/RAMONA	December 26th to January 15, 2021	Place holiday tree at curbside on regular collection day; or the night before. Cut trees over 6ft. in half. No stands, ornaments or flocked trees.	Universal Waste Systems	1-800-631-7016
EAST CHARTER OAK/FOOTHILL	December 26th to 1/8/21	Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. Place it in the green bin and it will be collected on regular collection day.	Ware Disposal	1-877-714-9273
EAST PASADENA/EAST SAN GABRIEL/EAST ARCADIA	December 26th to January 11, 2021	Place holiday tree at curbside on regular collection day; or the night before. Cut trees over 6ft. in half. No stands, ornaments or flocked trees.	Burrtec Waste Industries	1-800-325-9417
EL CAMINO VILLAGE/DEL AIRE/WISEBURN/ALONDRA PARK	December 26th to January 16, 2021	Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day. No flocked trees, stands or ornaments.	Consolidated Disposal Services	1-800-299-4898
FLORENCE/FIRESTONE/WILLOWBROOK	December 26th to January 14, 2021	Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. Place it in the green bin and it will be collected on regular collection day.	Waste Management	1-800-744-0222
HACIENDA HEIGHTS	December 28th to January 15, 2021	No flocked trees, stands or ornaments. Cut trees over 6 ft. in half.	Valley Vista Services	1-800-442-6454
KINNELOA MESA	December 26th to January 16, 2021	Place holiday tree at curbside on regular collection day; or the night before. Cut trees over 6ft. in half. No stands, ornaments or flocked trees.	Athens Services	1-888-336-6100
LA CRESCENTA/MONTROSE	December 26th to January 11, 2021	Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. Place it in the green bin and it will be collected on regular collection day.	Burrtec Waste Industries	1-800-325-9417
LENNOX GDD	December 26th to 1/8/21	Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. Place it in the green bin and it will be collected on regular collection day.	Ware Disposal	1-877-714-9273
MALIBU GDD	December 26th to January 15, 2021	Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day. Trees over 6ft must be cut in half.	Universal Waste Systems	1-800-631-7016
MESA HEIGHTS GDD	December 26th to January 15, 2021	Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day. Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. Flocked trees are not accepted.	Universal Waste Systems	1-800-631-7016
PIONEER/CARSON PARK	December 26th to January 15, 2021	Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day. Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. Flocked trees are not accepted.	Universal Waste Systems	1-800-631-7016
RANCHO DOMINGUEZ/W. RANCHO DOMINGUEZ/ROSEWOOD	December 26th to January 14, 2021	Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. Place it in the green bin and it will be collected on regular collection day.	Waste Management	1-800-774-0222
ROWLAND HEIGHTS	December 26th to January 15, 2021	Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day. Trees over 6ft must be cut in half.	Athens Services	1-888-336-6100
SANTA CLARITA	December 26th to January 11, 2021	Cut trees over 6 ft. in half. Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day.	Burrtec Waste Industries	1-866-270-5370
SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS	December 26th to January 15, 2021	Cut trees over 6ft. in half. Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day.	Universal Waste Systems	1-800-631-7016
SOUTH SAN GABRIEL	December 26th to 1/8/21	Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. No stands, ornaments or flocked trees accepted.	Ware Disposal	1-877-714-9273
SOUTH WHITTIER	December 26th to 1/8/21	Trees over 6ft must be cut in half. No stands, ornaments or flocked trees accepted.	Waste Management	1-800-774-0222
WALNUT PARK GDD	December 26th to January 16, 2021	Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day. Trees over 6ft must be cut in half.	Consolidated Disposal Service	800-299-4898
WESTFIELD/LA RAMBLA/WEST CARSON	December 26th to January 15, 2021	Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day. Trees over 6ft must be cut in half.	Cal Met Services	1-800-990-6387
WEST WHITTIER	December 26th to January 15, 2021	Place tree by the curb by 6 a.m. on service day. Trees over 6ft must be cut in half.	Universal Waste Systems	1-800-631-7016

Other areas near Los Angeles:

• Pasadena, CA - The City collected more than 10,000 trees last year for recycling, saving valuable landfill space and generating protective landscaping mulch.  Drop off your tree from 7 am to 2 pm., December 26th until January 4th at:
  - Easton Blanche Park, 3100 E. Del Mar Blvd., parking lot on Millicent Way
  - Robinson Park, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., parking lot on Morton Street
  From January 2 through the following Friday a week and a half later, (the first 2 weeks of January) residents can also place trees at curbside for recycling. Christmas trees will be collected on your normal service day. Remember, all ornaments, lights and stands must be removed. Flocked and fire retardant treated trees are acceptable. Do not place tree outside for curbside pickup until the morning of your regular service day.
  For more information, call the Citizen Service Center at (626) 744-7311 or online at www.cityofpasaadena.net/publicworks.
  Remember, no bulky pickup now through late January.
• Torrance, CA - Christmas Tree Recycling - Christmas trees six (6) feet or smaller can be placed directly into your green waste container and will be collected during normal collection times. Curbside pick-up for Christmas trees will be available December 27 through January 12, 2020 during normal collection times. Trees must be unflocked (no fake snow), less than six feet long (without cutting), and undecorated (no strands, tinsel, or ornaments). To recycle unflocked Christmas trees curbside, remove all tinsel, ornaments and stands. Trees can be up to six (6) feet long without needing to be cut. Place the tree at the curb at least four feet from your collection containers by 7:00 am on your regularly scheduled collection day between December 27 and January 12, 2020. A separate truck will collect the trees to use as mulch and landfill cover.  If Christmas trees are flocked or put out before or after the recycling collection dates, the trees must be cut and placed in the regular trash container for collection. Eco-Friendly Tips! For a more eco-friendly, sustainable Christmas tree option, try a living (potted) Christmas tree at "Living Christmas" a non-profit organization. Note that the city does not endorse specific businesses but provides options to the public. Click here to go to LA County's "Helpful Holiday Hints for Waste Reduction" for tips on holiday waste reduction. For multifamily homes, businesses, and those not serviced by the City of Torrance, please contact your private waste hauler for their recycling program information.

If you miss your free pickup:

California Christmas Tree Recycling - has a service for which you must pay - Click here there to reserve your pick-up online with this easy form. They say they will contact you within 24 hours with a confirmation and price quote. or Call today to book your 4 hour time slot. Los Angeles (310) 584-6589 San Fernando Valley (818) 986-1300 San Diego County (858) 433-0359 Prices start at $25 and go up with the size of the tree.

• Note about Monterey Pine disposal: take precautions when disposing of your Christmas trees this year to help control the spread of pine pitch canker, an incurable disease that has killed thousands of Monterey pine trees. Pine pitch canker, a fungal disease recently introduced to California, causes dieback and mortality in native and ornamental pine trees. It may also infect Monterey pine Christmas trees. While every attempt is made to sell only disease-free Christmas trees, some trees could harbor the disease without showing symptoms. Since there is no known cure for pitch canker, limiting its spread is the key to prevention. The disease is present in 16 coastal and adjacent inland California counties from Mendocino to San Diego. Bark beetles, which carry the fungus, primarily infest Monterey and Bishop pines but also feed and breed on inland forest trees such as Ponderosa pine. As yet, the disease has not been found in the Sierras. It does not infect humans, pets or other plants.

If you do not find your area above (which is unlikely, this is a fairly comprehensive list), click here to contact your city or county's recycling coordinator directly.