Recycle: Shred Your Christmas Tree For Free

Here’s how to get your Christmas tree into the mulcher and not the landfill.

Place your tree—free of decorations and holiday trimmings—on the curb by 7 a.m. on your regular recycling day and the county will turn it into compost or shred it into mulch. 

Trees with root balls are considered “live” and cannot be collected as part of the county’s regular recycling program. You can request bulk pick up for artificial trees or if it’s usable, consider donating it to charity. 

If you live in an apartment or condo, check with your property manager for instructions. Christmas trees must be recycled under county law. 

January and February is the best time to pick up Christmas tree mulch from the county’s Neighborhood Mulch Preserves the Montgomery County Recycling Center, 16105 Frederick Rd. in Derwood and at E.E. Halmos Park (use the Bodmer Ave. entrance) in Poolesville.

The mulch is free but you have to load and transport it yourself.

More information about Christmas tree recycling, the Neighborhood Mulch Preserves can be found on the county’s website.

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