Missouri: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays

 

Where and How to Recycle or Dispose of Christmas Trees in Missouri in January 2018

In many urban and suburban areas, Christmas trees are collected from curbside during the first 2 weeks in January. Be sure to remove all  remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands,  other NON-Organic decorative materials and other materials that are not part of the original tree. This includes tree stands also.  Flocked trees are usually accepted, but not artificial trees. Large trees (larger than the standard 6 - 7 ft tree) may need to be cut in half to be acceptable by your garbage hauler. But scrroll down this page for more specific information and local links.

What happens to the trees? In most cases, the trees are chipped and made into a mulch which is usually made available, free to city or county residents. Important: Never burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove. Burning the tree may contribute to creosote buildup and could cause a chimney fire.

Tips: Always follow the links (usually the name of the city or county) below for updated information, as these agencies often wait until the last minute to change dates or update their information (it's government, remember?). If your area is not specifically mentioned below, contact your trash collection agency and inquire!

Related information:

See this page for local options to easily recycle your Christmas holiday lights

If it has just snowed; see this page about how to make snocones  from real snow!  Your kids will love it!

Click here for the list of winter sleigh ride locations!

See our easy recipes to make a Chocolate Yule log and click here to make your own low-fat, low calorie but delicious Egg Nog ! Then come back to our other website in March to find a local Easter Egg Hunt for your children !

Missouri: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays

Where and How to Recycle or Dispose of Christmas Trees in Missouri in 2018

In many urban and suburban areas, Christmas trees are collected from curbside during the first 2 weeks in January. Be sure to remove all  remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands,  other NON-Organic decorative materials and other materials that are not part of the original tree. This includes tree stands also.  Flocked trees are usually accepted, but not artificial trees. Large trees (larger than the standard 6 - 7 ft tree) may need to be cut in half to be acceptable by your garbage hauler.

In most cases, the trees are chipped and made into a mulch which is usually made available, free to city or county residents. Important: Never burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove. Burning the tree may contribute to creosote buildup and could cause a chimney fire.

Always follow the links (usually the name of the city or county) below for updated information, as these agencies often wait until the last minute to change dates or update their information (it's government, remember?). If your area is not specifically mentioned below, contact your trash collection agency and inquire!

Curbside Pickup and/or Drop off:

• Columbia Missouri -
  Curbside pick-up: You no longer need to remove objects from your tree if you don't want to. Whole Christmas trees can be placed curbside with your regular trash and will be collected for use in the city's bioreactor landfill. In the bioreactor, liquid is added to accelerate the decomposition and stabilization of the waste. Methane produced will be used to generate electricity from this renewable energy source. After January 31, trees placed curbside need to be cut into four-foot lengths and bundled.
  Drop-off locations:  Christmas trees can also be dropped off at the Capen Park Mulch Site (south of Stadium, off Rock Quarry Road) OR the Parkside Mulch Site (north of Memorial Park Cemetery, off Creasy Springs Road). ALL lights, ornaments and stand must be removed prior to deposit at these two sites.
  For more information, call the Public Works Solid Waste Division at 573-874-6291 or send an e-mail to waste-mgmt@GoColumbiaMo.com .

Pick-up Services

• Belton, MO - Lawn-Corps Yardwaste Recycling & Soil Center - Missouri residents only - (816) 761-3046
• Gladstone, MO - Nature's Rubbish - Missouri residents only - (816) 444-4050
• Grandview, MO - Compost Connection Inc. - Missouri residents only - (816) 761-8300
• Kansas City, MO - Country-Side Recycling - Missouri residents only - (816) 923-7127
• Raymore, MO Boy Scout Troop 427 Christmas Tree Recycling - January 3rd, 2015; Contact David at 816-898-0923 to schedule pick up of your live Christmas tree. Pick between Saturday Dec 27th & January 3rd.
  City of Raymore Park House, 909 S Main Street, Raymore, 64083.
  $10.00 Per tree pick up service.
  Proceeds Benefit Boy Scout Troop 427. Scouts will strip the tree branches for the City of Raymore to use as mulch. The Scout Troop will use the trunks for the tree as firewood throughout the year. Making the full tree Recycled.

Drop-Off Locations

• Belton - Lawn-Corps Yardwaste Recycling & Soil Center, 2016 E. 171st St., Belton, Mo., (816) 761-3046
• Blue Springs - Pink Hill Park, 2715 Park Rd., Blue Springs, Missouri, (816) 228-0137

• Gladstone - Public Works Facility, 4000 NE 76th St., Gladstone, Missouri, 64118, (816) 436-2200
• Harrisonville - Town & Country Disposal, 22820 S. 291 Hwy., Harrisonville, Missouri, 64701, (816) 380-5595.
• Jefferson County, MO - The Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Department, in cooperation with the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the Crystal City Parks Department, sponsors its annual Christmas tree recycling program from Christmas through mid January. Dispose of your natural Christmas tree with us! Recycling locations are as follows:
  Pleasant Valley Nature Preserve, Highway PP and Byrnes Mill Road, High Ridge
  Sunridge Park, 8093 Tower Road, North of Hillsboro
  Jefferson County Courthouse Lower Parking Lot, Hillsboro
  Crystal City Municipal Park in Crystal City.
  Designated drop areas for your tree will be marked. For more information on these and other programs, please contact us at the Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Department at 636-797-5334 or by email at cluetkemeyer@jeffcomo.org . 
• Kansas City, Missouri (North) - City of Kansas City, Missouri, Leaves & Brush, 1815 N. Chouteau Trafficway, Kansas City, Missouri, (816) 513-1313
• Kansas City, Missouri (Southeast) - City of Kansas City Leaves & Brush, south of I-470 on the east side of Raytown Rd., Kansas City, Missouri, (816) 513-1313
• Kansas City, Missouri (East) - Missouri Organic Recycling, Inc., 7700 E. 40 Hwy., Kansas City, Missouri, (816) 483-0908
• Kansas City, Missouri (South) - Suburban Lawn and Garden Yard Waste Recycling Center, 139th & Wyandotte, Kansas City, Mo, (816) 941-2438
• Kansas City, Missouri (South) - Damon Pursell Yard Waste Facility, 9001 Hickman Dr., Kansas City, Missouri, (816) 926-0300
• Liberty, MO - Christmas Trees Recycling: The City offers a drop-off site for Christmas tree collections for a limited time during the holidays; check local papers, website or call 816.439.4514. Reminders will also be distributed via the News Flash, the City's email news service .  City Park, 1100 Clayview Dr., Liberty, Missouri, (816) 439-4415
  Bennett Park, 970 S. Hwy 291, Liberty, Missouri, (816) 439-4415
• Raymore, MO Boy Scout Troop 427 Christmas Tree Recycling - January 3rd, 2015; Contact David at 816-898-0923 to schedule pick up of your live Christmas tree. Pick between Saturday Dec 27th & January 3rd.
  City of Raymore Park House, 909 S Main Street, Raymore, 64083.
  $5.00 Per tree drop off service; $10.00 Per tree pick up service.
  Proceeds Benefit Boy Scout Troop 427. Scouts will strip the tree branches for the City of Raymore to use as mulch. The Scout Troop will use the trunks for the tree as firewood throughout the year. Making the full tree Recycled.
• Riverside - Damon Pursell Yardwaste Facility, 6105 NW Riverpark Dr., Riverside, Missouri, 816/304-3441
• Smithville - Little Platte Park, Smithville Lake, 16311 DD Hwy, Smithville, Missouri, (816) 407-3400.
• St. Louis, MO - Christmas Tree Recycling offered at Forest Park, O'Fallon Park, and Carondelet Park. City residents can take the bare tree to one of three city parks to be recycled. Trees are accepted after Christmas through the third week of January. Remove ornaments, tinsel, lights and tree stand. Do not put the tree in a plastic bag or cover it. Wreaths and pine roping are not accepted at the sites. Drop off trees anytime at any one of these three park locations:
  Forest Park, Lower Muny Opera parking lot
  O'Fallon Park, West Florissant and Holly, picnic grounds #4
  Carondelet Park, Grand and Holly Hills, area between gate & recycling containers
  No fees apply. Trees will be recycled into mulch, which will be made available to City residents.
  Contact: (314) 647-3111, Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 PM.
• Sugar Creek - Courtney-Ridge Recycling Center, 2001 N. 291 Hwy., Sugar Creek, Missouri, (816) 257-7999

Springfield, MO Options available for recycling Christmas trees

Springfield residents are reminded that Christmas trees are not accepted at Missouri landfills. Several options are available for recycling this year's trees, however. See this page for the most current information .

Bass Pro

Bass Pro will accept trees at the fenced area at the northwest end of the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World parking lot directly behind the store at 1935 S. Campbell Ave. 
Dates accepted: December 26-Jan. 1, 2015.
Hours: Noon to 6pm daily Fee: $2 per tree donation; benefitting the Boy Scouts Uses: Trees are used to provide wildlife habitat for rabbits, quail and song birds. Special instructions: Remove all icicles, ornaments, tree stand and no flocked trees accepted. 
For more information, contact: Larry Whiteley, 830-9023.

Wickman's

Wickman's will accept trees at 1345 S. Fort Ave., in Springfield and at 10791 U.S. Hwy. 60 in Monett. 
Dates accepted: December 26-Jan. 31, 2015.
Hours: (Springfield) Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday; 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Monett) Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday Noon-5 p.m. 
Fee: $5 per tree at both locations; proceeds donated to The Kitchen. 
Uses: Trees will be ground into wood chip mulch, which is available for free. Bring your own container. 
Special instructions: Remove all icicles, ornaments, tree stand, plastic bags, and no flocked trees accepted. 
For more information, contact: 862-3707 (Springfield); or 235-1112 (Monett) or visit http://www.wickmans.com .

City of Springfield Yardwaste Recycling Center

The Yardwaste Recycling Center will accept Christmas trees year round. 
Directions: West on Sunshine (U.S. Hwy. 60); south on Farm Road 115; left on Farm Road 164. Follow signs to the Yardwaste Recycling Center. 
Dates accepted: Year round. The Center will be closed on December 25 and Jan. 1, 2015. 
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday; closed Sundays and Mondays. 
Fees: Donations are accepted; the brush recycling fee of $4 will be waived for residential Christmas trees through Jan. 31, 2015; otherwise, the $4 gate fee will apply. Existing commercial fees will apply to commercial loads, including Christmas trees. 
Special instructions: Remove all icicles, ornaments and tree stand. 
For more information, contact: Recycling Hotline, 864-1904.
Note: Trees are not accepted at the Franklin and Lone Pine Avenue recycling centers.
For more information, contact: Barbara J. Lucks, Sustainability Officer, Sustainability Division, Department of Environmental Services, 864-2005.