Post-Holiday Options for Your Christmas Tree

As you begin to pack up your holiday decorations, you may be wondering what to do with your live Christmas tree after the holiday. Several free options are available to Hillsborough County Solid Waste customers including: free curbside pickup, free disposal at County yard waste facility, or recycling and reusing the tree in their landscapes.

Pickup at the Curb

Curbside pickup of live Christmas trees is available to County Solid Waste customers by following these steps:

  • Remove all decorations, lights, and tinsel,
  • Cut the tree into sections no larger than four feet long and six inches in diameter, and
  • Place curbside on your regular yard waste collection day.

Drop it Off

Hillsborough County solid waste customers can skip the hassle and work of cutting their live Christmas trees into smaller pieces for curbside pickup by taking trees directly to one of the following Yard Waste Processing Facilities:

  • 346 Falkenburg Road in Tampa
  • 13001 U.S. Highway 41 in Gibsonton
  • 8001 W. Linebaugh Ave. in Tampa

The County’s three yard waste sites are open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., with the exception of holidays. The sites will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Customers are required to have their current tax bill and photo I.D. to access the Yard Waste Processing Facilities, and they must be able to unload the trees themselves. Customers should also remove all decorations, lights, and tinsel. Artificial trees are not accepted at the yard waste sites. For any questions about taking trees to a Yard Waste Processing Facility, call Hillsborough County Solid Waste at (813) 272-5680.

Recycle and Reuse

One way to recycle your Christmas tree is to chop or grind your live Christmas tree and repurpose it as mulch around trees, shrubs, and flower beds. For more ideas and information regarding recycling and repurposing live Christmas trees, contact Lisa Meredith with Hillsborough County Extension Service’s Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program at MeredithL@HillsboroughCounty.org or (813) 744-5519 ext. 54146.

For more information about Hillsborough County solid waste collection and disposal services, visit http://www.HillsboroughCounty.org/SolidWaste, or call (813) 272-5680.