O, Christmas tree! Sooner or later, it’s time to say goodbye. While most refuse companies and township public works departments collect Christmas trees with regular trash pick-ups, there are also 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 2025.

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!

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!

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 drop off their Christmas tree at the township’s compost site at Heuser Park on weekdays between 7 am–3 pm.

Althouse Arboretum

1784 Gilbertsville Road, Pottstown
January 4th and 11th, 2025 from 9 am–3 pm

Althouse Arboretum makes Christmas tree-cycling easy at their annual, free drive-through Christmas Tree Recycling event. On two Saturdays, Jan. 4th and Jan. 11th, 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 2025 Tree-Cycle Festival

January 4th and 11th, 12–3 pm
Farm at Awbury Arboretum, 6336 Ardleigh Street  

January 18th, 12–3 pm
Laurel Hill West Cemetery, 225 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd

Now that you’re done with your Christmas tree, give it to Philly Goat Project. For a suggested donation of $20 your Christmas tree will help benefit Philly Goat Project in so many ways. It will be eaten by the goats and/or turned into woodchips that help line the trails around Awbury Arboretum, the goats’ paddocks, or in parks around the city. And 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. With your tree and donation, enjoy free hot cocoa, s’mores, and more.

Township Christmas Tree-Cycling and Pick-Up Service

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.

Narberth Borough

Put out your 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 during regular yard waste collection on Mondays. Be sure to remove all lights, decorations, ornaments, and the tree stand.

Upper Merion Township

Upper Merion Township is doing Christmas tree-cycling for its residents this year by collecting trees for composting. During the month of January, simply leave your tree on the curb and it will be collected by the township. All ornaments, lights, stands, and bags must be removed before disposal. Pick-ups after the month of January must be submitted through a request for service.

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