O, Christmas tree! Sooner or later, it’s time to say goodbye as the holidays turn to plain, old winter. While most refuse companies and township public works departments collect Christmas trees with regular trash pick-ups, there are green options for your trusty tannenbaum.

So before you toss your tree, consider giving it a second life with one of these environmentally-friendly options. Or, find out when townships around the Main Line have scheduled their Christmas tree collections in 2026.

Do-It-Yourself Christmas Tree-Cycling

The easiest place to tree-cycle your Christmas tree is in your own backyard! Simply prop it up against another tree or lay it on its side to provide habitat for bird populations during the winter months. To quickly attract birds, have your kids decorate it with peanut butter-filled pinecones, suet blocks, or birdseed ornaments.

In the spring, cut off the branches and cut the trunk into smaller pieces to decompose in your yard. It will continue to provide food and habitat for other creatures such as insects, toads, and snakes.

Where to Drop Off Your Christmas Tree

If you don’t have the space or the inclination for Christmas tree-cycling in your own yard, not to worry. Bring it to one of these organizations and they will put your Christmas tree to good use.

Althouse Arboretum

1784 Gilbertsville Road, Pottstown
January 3rd and 4th, 2026 from 9 am–3 pm

Althouse Arboretum makes Christmas tree-cycling easy at their annual, free drive-through Christmas Tree Recycling event. On the first weekend in January, just drive in with your Christmas tree and students will remove it from your car. Later in the year, Arboretum volunteers use the collected trees to make wood chips for the trails. There is no fee for drop-off, but donations are accepted. Please remove all ornaments and stands. They also accept string lights for recycling!

Philly Goat Project 2026 Tree-Cycle Festival

January 10th, 12–3 pm; January 24th, 11 am-3 pm
The Farm at Awbury Arboretum, 6336 Ardleigh Street, Philadelphia

January 17th, 12–3 pm
Laurel Hill West Cemetery Conservatory, 215 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd

Now that you’re done with your Christmas tree, give it to the goats. For a suggested donation of $20, your Christmas tree will help benefit Philly Goat Project in so many ways. First, it may be eaten by their goats through May. After that, remaining trees are turned into wood chips that help line the trails around Awbury Arboretum and in parks around the City. Plus, your donation will go towards the Philly Goat Project’s mission of using “Goats for the Greater Good” and providing free programming to the community. At Awbury, trees can be dropped off curbside, via G.O.A.T. Safari (drive through the Farm to drop your tree), or by parking along Washington Lane and dragging in your tree. For the Laurel Hill event, follow signs to park near the Conservatory.

Don’t have a tree to donate? No problem. All are welcome to spend an afternoon at the Festival exploring the Farm and enjoying Farm Olympics (only at Awbury), free hot cocoa and s’mores, a goat petting zone, and a Quiet Visiting Area for visitors with special needs.

Upper Merion Township Compost Site Drop-Off

Heuser Park, 694 West Beidler Road, King of Prussia
Winter hours: Monday–Friday 7 am to 3 pm

Can’t wait for the regular, weekly collection service? Township residents can contribute to local sustainability efforts by dropping off their Christmas tree at the Township’s Compost Site at Heuser Park on weekdays between 7 am–3 pm.

Township Christmas Tree-Cycling and Pick-Up Service

Once the holidays conclude, it’s time to remove those ornaments and get ready to dispose of this year’s tree—but don’t just toss it in the trash! Many local townships offer convenient tree recycling and curbside pickup services to help you dispose of your tree responsibly while often supporting composting and sustainability efforts.

Easttown Township

Easttown’s Christmas tree collection is part of the regular yard waste and leaf collection for Township residents. Specifically, it will take place via curbside service on January 13, 2026. The trees are typically chipped for mulch, so all lights and decorations must be removed before pick up.

Lower Merion Township

The Township collects Christmas trees (placed curbside) during the first two weeks in January on the regular refuse collection day. Residents may also dispose of Christmas trees at the Public Works Complex located at 1300 N. Woodbine Avenue in Penn Valley, Monday through Friday 8 am–3 pm and Saturday 9 am–2:30 pm. All ornaments, stands and other decorations must be removed prior to disposal.

Narberth Borough

Narberth residents can dispose of their Christmas trees with regular yard and brush waste collection on Wednesdays. Be sure to remove all ornaments, decorations, and the stand.

Radnor Township

Artificial tree collection will take place on normal trash collection days. The township picks up natural Christmas trees curbside during regular yard waste collection on Mondays in January (except for January 19, 2026 when the Township is closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day). Be sure to remove all lights, decorations, ornaments, and the tree stand.

Upper Merion Township

Upper Merion Township is doing the Christmas tree-cycling for its residents this year by collecting trees for composting. During the month of January, simply leave your tree at the curb and it will be collected by the township. All ornaments, lights, stands, and bags must be removed before disposal. Pick-ups from February on must be arranged through a request for service, or check out the information supplied above and transport your tree to the Township Compost Site yourself.

Main Line Christmas Tree-cycling

It’s always a little bittersweet parting with your family’s holiday tree, but the Main Line offers plenty of ways to spruce up your recycling game via tree-cycling. Is there an organization or Christmas tree composting event we missed? Share details in the comments as we would love to learn about it!

Lead photo courtesy of Philly Goat Project. Article updated by Becky Ormsbee and Beth Gilbert-Crowell.