Happy Holidays, and thank you for looking into environmentally friendly disposal of your Christmas tree! This page contains information on how to prepare trees and other evergreen decorations for disposal, and options for disposal including in a backyard brush pile, at a local drop-offs and through curbside collection programs.
Preparing Trees for Disposal
Natural Trees
Whether you are creating backyard habitat, dropping your tree off somewhere, or curbing it (all options described in detail below),
trees must be taken out of stands with all ornaments, decorations, lights and hangers removed. Plastic, glass and metal used in decorations and hangers can contaminate mulch or compost and can also damage facility equipment. While you may want to bag your tree to keep needles contained while it's being moved, any bags or coverings must be removed before dropping off at a facility or before leaving curbside for collection. For curbside collection, large trees (over 6' tall) should be cut into sections each weighing less than 50 lbs so that workers can safely lift them. Residents are advised to avoid buying live trees that have been covered in glitter or flocking/faux snow, as these treatments prevent them from being mulched or composted.
Other Cut Evergreen Decorations
Due to the wire, plastic and foam used to shape and hang them, cut evergreen decor, including wreaths, swags, garlands, porch pots and kissing balls, can't be composted at commercial facilities. Please either place these items in the trash or carefully cut greenery (free of any glitter or flocking) away from wire frames, pots, hangers, etc. and place in your
backyard compost! All Kane County recycling centers can take unwanted light strings removed from decor, and our Batavia site accepts scrap floral wire.
Artificial Trees
The benefit of artificial Christmas trees is that they can be stored and used for many years. The downside is that when they are retired, they can't be recycled because they are made from multiple materials (usually multiple types of plastic over a metal frame). Can an older artificial tree be reused in a different room or in the yard? Can it be used at the office? Can it be donated to a community organization, or sold/given away on local social media groups? If not, unwanted artificial trees should be put in regular trash - a bulk item sticker may be required.
Christmas Trees as Backyard Habitat
Do you have a corner of your backyard where you could establish some shelter for overwintering birds and small critters? Do you have a pond where you could improve fish habitat? If so, an undecorated natural Christmas tree makes a great starting point. For smaller spaces, you may wish to cut a larger tree into several pieces and put part of the tree out as habitat and dispose of the rest a different way. Do check your municipality or township's ordinances for size limitations on compost and brush piles, but generally one tree should not be a problem. It's best to put the tree as far from possible from heated buildings (both yours and neighbors') to avoid attracting critters to the house. More tips are available from
U of I Extension, the
Backyard Ecology blog and the
Choose Natives blog.
As captured by a wildlife cam, a red fox hunts for small mammals near a suburban brush pile.
Natural Tree Drop-off
You can drop off natural trees for mulching (all stands, lights and decorations removed) at the following locations:
Aurora Township Highway Department
Location: 220 Butterfield Rd., North Aurora 60542
Contact: 630-892-0246
Dates & Hours: Through the end of January, M-F, 9am - 3pm
Cost: Free, for Township residents only
Dundee TOWNSHIP Road District
Location: 1900 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Sleepy Hollow 60118
Contact: 847-426-0898
Dates & Hours: Any time between dates 12/26/23 and 1/15/24
Cost: Free, for Township residents only
Huntley Park District
Location: Sun Valley Farm at Betsey Warrington Park, 12209 W. Main Street, Huntley
Contact: 847-669-3182
Dates & Hours: Through the end of January during normal park hours
Cost: Free, for Village residents only
Midwest Compost with locations in Elgin and West Chicago
Locations: 1320 Spaulding Rd., Elgin 60120 & 1195 W. Washington St., West Chicago 60185
Contact: Elgin: 847-931-2900, W. Chicago: 630-876-8900
Dates & Hours: Accepting trees first and second weeks of January, M-F, 7am-3:45pm
Cost: no residency restrictions, call for pricing
Christmas trees make good mulch!
Natural Tree Curbside Collection
The following information summarizes curbside programs offered by franchised waste haulers (WM, Groot, LRS, Flood Bros., etc.) and by township highway departments for natural Christmas trees. Haulers' ability to find a suitable composter for collected trees may vary. Having been designed primarily to accommodate yard waste, many northeastern Illinois compost facilities are closed during the winter. If you want to be 100% certain that your tree will not be landfilled, going the backyard habitat or drop-off route is best (see above). If your place of residence is not listed below, please contact the city/township or your hauler directly to enquire about tree collection.
Algonquin – Groot will offer free curbside collection of trees throughout the month of January
according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays. Algonquin is also recycling holiday lights at the Ganek Municipal Center through January 17, 2024.
AURORA – Groot will offer free curbside collection of trees during the first and second full weeks of January according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays. After the second collection in January, trees will require a trash sticker. eWorks will collect unwanted strings of holiday lights and extension cords at its recycling pop-up from 9am - noon on Saturday, January 6th at 994 N. Lake Street in Aurora. No pre-lit trees or free-standing decorations, please - just wires and lights.
Aurora Township – Throughout January, the Aurora Township Highway Department will collect Christmas trees from residents in unincorporated Aurora Township. Trees must be undecorated and placed in the right-of-way with the cut ends toward the street. Call 630-892-0246 with any questions.
Batavia - Groot will be picking up live Christmas Trees free of charge during the first and second weeks in January
according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays. After the second collection in January, trees will require a trash sticker. eWorks collects unwanted strings of holiday lights, extension cords, and metal tree stands year-round at the Batavia Recycling Center, 517 E. Fabyan Parkway, Batavia, open 8am - 4pm, Monday - Friday. No pre-lit trees or free-standing decorations, please - just wires and lights.
Blackberry Township - LRS will offer free curbside collection of trees to unincorporated residents during the first and second full weeks of January according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays. After the second collection in January, trees will require a trash sticker.
Campton TOWNSHIP - LRS
will offer free curbside collection of trees during the first and second full weeks of January according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays. After the second collection in January, trees will require a trash sticker.
CARPENTERSVILLE -
Groot will offer free curbside collection of trees throughout the month of January according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays.
East Dundee - Flood Brothers will collect holiday greenery (trees, wreaths, swags, etc.) free of charge with normal trash and recycling collection during the first two full weeks in January. Note: Flood Brothers is treating Christmas trees as general waste (trash) at this time,
per their website. If it is important to you that your tree is not landfilled, please see the Township Road Department drop-off option listed above.
Elburn -
LRS will offer free curbside collection of trees during the first and second full weeks of January according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays. After the second collection in January, trees will require a trash sticker.
Elgin - WM will collect Christmas trees free of charge after Christmas until January 15 according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays. The service is provided to all residents, including condos and townhouses that don't normally receive yard waste pick-up. After January 15th, a sticker is required for all trees placed curbside.
Geneva - LRS will pick up trees at no extra cost on residents' regular garbage collection day (Jan 6-7th & Jan 12-13th). Residents must place their tree at the curb no later than 7am on their scheduled day. Trees placed out after the second collection of January must have a trash sticker.
Gilberts - The Village of Gilberts’ Waste Hauler (MDC) will pick up discarded Christmas trees place on the curbside on the resident’s normal pickup day after the holidays through the last collection in January.
HampshiRe - Flood Brothers will collect holiday greenery (trees, wreaths, swags, etc.) free of charge with normal trash and recycling collection throughout January.
HUNTLEY – See Huntley Park District drop-off option, above
Maple Park -
WM will collect Christmas trees free of charge after Christmas and throughout January according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays.
MILL CREEK -
LRS will offer free curbside collection of trees during the first and second full weeks of January according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays. After the second collection in January, trees will require a trash sticker.
Montgomery – DC/LRS will collect live Christmas trees for disposal on all regular collection days throughout the month of January.
North Aurora - Groot will offer free curbside collection of trees throughout the month of January according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays.
PINGREE GROVE - Flood Brothers will collect holiday greenery (trees, wreaths, swags, etc.) free of charge with normal trash and recycling collection during the first two three weeks in January. Following that time, Christmas trees will be billed as bulk items.
SLEEPY HOLLOW - Groot will collected Christmas trees for disposal on all regular collection days throughout the month of January. See also Dundee Township Road Department drop-off, above.
South Elgin -
Groot will offer free curbside collection of trees during the first three full weeks of January according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays. After the third collection in January, trees will require a trash sticker.
St. Charles -
LRS will offer free curbside collection of trees during the first and second full weeks of January according to residents' trash and recycling schedule, which may be impacted by the holidays. After the second collection in January, trees will require a trash sticker. City of St. Charles is also recycling holiday lights at multiple locations through January 15, 2024.
st. charles township Call 630-584-3496 to schedule a pick-up in Unincorporated St. Charles. The Township Road District will be chipping trees during the first week of January.
SUGAR GROVE - DC/LRS will collect live Christmas trees for disposal on all regular collection days throughout the month of January.
West Dundee – Free curbside Christmas tree collections are available along with regular refuse collection during the first two full weeks in January for residential properties with no more than 3 units. For multi-family units, see Dundee Township drop-off above. eWorks collects unwanted strings of holiday lights and extension cords year-round at Kane County's West Dundee Recycling Center, 900 Angle Tarn, West Dundee - behind the Village Public Works building, open 7am - 3pm, Monday - Friday. No pre-lit trees or free-standing decorations, please - just wires and lights.
