Guide to Austin Christmas Tree Recycling and Disposal

Posted December 15, 2013

Read time: 2 minutes

Your Complete Guide to Recycling Everything from Christmas: Christmas Trees, Christmas Lights & Christmas Cards

Austin takes their recycling serious and that’s what makes this city so amazing. If you are looking for ‘green’ ways to end the holidays, check out our complete guide to recycling Christmas trees, Christmas lights and holiday cards. Also, Realty Austin has a full list of everything recyclable and what is not in Austin.

Where to Recycle Christmas Trees

City of Austin

If you’re a City of Austin customer, you can place your tree on the curbside and they will pick it up. If you aren’t a customer, the first two weekends of January you can drop your Christmas tree off at Zilker Park to be turned into mulch.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative

Supporting member communities, Pedernales Electric Cooperative provides a Christmas tree recycling program that runs from late December to early January. After the trees are collected, they are mulched and distributed to area parks and playgrounds.

Austin Community Landfill

Austin Community Landfill allows Christmas trees to be dropped off and chipped to use for erosion control around their landfill. Anyone can stop by the landfill to dispose of their tree and for no cost.

Willamson County Landfill

At no charge during the two weeks after Christmas, Willamson County Landfill allows residents to dispose of their natural trees to be mulched in the landfill. Artificial Christmas trees can be recycled as a standard household waste item at home.

Where to Recycle Christmas Lights

Home Depot

The Home Depot is committed to recycling, their “3 R’s” meaning Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. They collect and recycle Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) and holiday lights.

City of Austin

Not only does the City of Austin recycle your Christmas tree but also your fluorescent holiday lights! Residents should take the household quantities to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility to drop them off.

Batteries Plus Bulbs

Batteries Plus Bulbs is all about environmental responsibility and going through the proper recycling process from start to finish. From compact fluorescent light bulbs to over ten different kinds of bulb and lighting products, they will recycle them for you.

Don’t Forget to Recycle your Christmas Cards!

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children accepts holiday and all-occasion greeting cards to use to support and provide services for abused, neglected and homeless children, young adults and families. Recycle for a great cause!

City of Austin

Austin Resource Recovery, a program through the City of Austin, provides recycling collection at households for Christmas cards. They pick up glossy and matte paper, envelops, greeting cards and wrapping paper!