Kentucky: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays January 2024

Where and How to Recycle or Dispose of Christmas Trees in Kentucky after Christmas 2023 and in January 2024

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 ! There are affiliate links on this page. Read our disclosure policy to learn more.

Kentucky: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays January 2024

• Kentucky Fish and Wildlife - Across the state , KDFWR has drop-off points across the state where you can bring your old tree and put it to good use. KDFWR will take your tree and combine it with others to create fish attractors for lakes all over the state. These brush reefs provide nesting and rearing habitat for gamefish as well as creating homes for invertebrates and smaller fishes that provide food for larger fish. Just clean your tree of all of the artificial decorations, lights, tinsel, ornaments, etc. and drop it off - click the link above for our locations list ! The program usually runs the first 2 weeks in January, daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
• Boone County, KY - Christmas Treecycling, Recycle your natural Christmas trees!
  Recycle your natural Christmas trees with us! Please remove all tinsel, ornaments, ribbons, lights, and bags. All trees will be mulched and properly disposed of. Take your trees, from December 26th until Saturday January 7th, 2023, at 8:00am.
  Note: Florence residents have the option for curbside pickup on January 4th?? They have not published this year's date. Residents must leave trees on the curb; any trees not left on the curb will not be collected.**
  Christmas Tree Drop-Off. - Please drop off your trees BEFORE 8:00am at the below locations. If you have any questions, please contact Megan Clere at 859-334-3151.
  Locations:
  Boone County Extension Enrichment Center, 1824 Patrick Drive, Burlington, KY 41005
  Stringtown Park (near Boone County High School), 7340 Burlington Pike, Florence, KY 41042
  Union Park FKA Union Pool, 10165 Old Union Road, Union, KY 41091.
  Walton Park (by the back ball fields), 35 Old Stephenson Mill Road, Walton, KY 41094.
  Lakeside Christian Church - Hebron Campus (corner of North Bend Road and Tanners Road), 1980 North Bend Road, Hebron, KY 41048.
  
  Bring your broken holiday string lights to us!
  All kinds of string lights are accepted, including traditional and LED-style bulbs. Please remove any boxes and bags. We have two locations:
  Boone County Public Works (5645 Idlewild Road, Burlington) and
  Boone County Conservation District (6028 Camp Ernst Road, Burlington).
• Boyle County, KY - Boyle County Department of Solid Waste Mgt. will now begin accepting Christmas trees, at the Alum Springs Convenience Center, 859-854-3404, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Tuesday to Saturday., except holidays.
  Cities of Danville and Perryville and also those with private trash collection must cut trees into 3 foot sections, Trees should be placed curbside only on regular scheduled trash days.
  The trees must meet these requirements: All lights, tinsel, garland, tree stands, and ornaments MUST be removed. These items will damage the tub grinder. Any trees not meeting these strict requirements WILL NOT be collected.
  Artificial trees or trees that have been treated with a chemical, i.e. artificial snow, must be taken to Convenience Centers for disposal, or cut in 3' sections and set out to curb on your regular trash day.
  For Convenience Center drop-off BOYLE COUNTY RESIDENTS ONLY, PROOF OF RESIDENCY REQUIRED.
  For more information Call Boyle County Department of Solid Waste at 859-319-4803 or M & M Sanitation at 859-936-0957
  
• Campbell County - Campbell County operates a Tree Recycling Program in cooperation with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife ! The program usually runs the first 2 weeks in January, daily from 8 am to 5 pm.. Residents can drop off live, undecorated trees to be used for fish habitat in lakes across the state.
  Pendery Sports Park Campbell 4051 Mary Ingles Highway, Melbourne, KY 41059 Allyn Reinecke 859-547-1873
• Covington, KY - There are two ways for residents to get rid of trees:
  Curbside collection: Residents can arrange to have their tree picked up on regular trash collection days. Residents must contact Rumpke at (800) 828-8171 or by email [email protected] 48 hours in advance to request their tree be picked up. The pickup will happen on regular garbage and recycling collection days. This option starts the first full week in January 4 and lasts until mid-January. .
  Drop-off - Trees can also be dropped off from December 26 through mid-January at three different locations:
  - In South Covington at the parking lot at Tripoli and Hands Pike, adjacent to Neighborhood Park.
  - At the Urban Forestry Garage at 1700 Montague Road in Devou Park.
  - In the parking lot at 14 Pete Rose Pier, which is the foot of Bakewell Street on the north side of the Ohio River floodwall.
• Crescent Springs, KY - Christmas Tree Recycling Program - You can recycle your Christmas tree until the second Thursday in January. Trees can be dropped off at the Park and Ride on Anderson Road. Trees should be placed in the roped off area on the lot. Curbside pick up by Public Works is also available by calling 344-0797. Please remember, no artificial trees. All lights, ornaments and decorations must be removed.
• Florence, KY - Two options are available to recycle your Christmas tree this season. Curbside pickup will occur on ONE day in early January (set out no later than 7:00 am). Please leave your tree on the curb the night before for Florence Public Services to collect. Trees not set on the curb will not be collected. There will be no curbside pickup outside of Florence. If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Kleier at 859-647-5416. You can also take your tree to one of the Boone County drop off locations (see Boone County, above)
• Fort Wright, KY - They have curbside collection, but they would like to remind and encourage anyone with a live Christmas tree to recycle it instead of putting it out in the trash.
  Remove all ornaments, tinsel, lights, and any other artificial decorations and drop your "live" tree at our designated drop zone. This year's drop zone will once again be located at City Hall, 409 Kyles Lane. The tree corral will be near the Guardian Angel Garden on the northeast side of the City Building.  The Christmas Tree Drop-Off Zone will be available starting Sunday, December 26th. It will close for shredding on the second Friday in January. At that time, Kenton County Public Works will turn the trees into mulch to be used in the future.  Christmas Tree Recycling is offered free-of-charge to anyone wishing to drop off their "live" tree. For more information, please contact them at 859-331-1700 or [email protected].
• Junction City, KY - Boyle County Department of Solid Waste Mgt. will now begin accepting Christmas trees for Recycling and Disposal, at the Alum Springs Convenience Center, 859-854-3404, from 9 am to 4:30 pm Tues. - Saturday, except holidays. Cities of Danville and Perryville and also those with private trash collection must cut Trees in 3 foot sections, Trees should be placed curbside only on regular scheduled trash days. Must meet these requirements:
  All lights, tinsel, garland, tree stands, and ornaments MUST be removed. These items will damage the tub grinder. Any trees not meeting these strict requirements WILL NOT be collected.
  Artificial trees or trees that have been treated with a chemical, i.e. artificial snow, must be taken to Convenience Centers for disposal, or cut in 3' sections and set out to curb on your regular trash day.
  For Convenience Center drop-off BOYLE COUNTY RESIDENTS ONLY, PROOF OF RESIDENCY REQUIRED.
  For more information Call Boyle County Department of Solid Waste at 859-319-4803 or M & M Sanitation at 859-936-0957.
• Kenton County, KY - Remove all tinsel, ornaments, ribbons, lights and bags so the trees can be mulched. Drop-off locations and dates are January 2 through early January BUT they have not published any updated information online since 2020, so, my advice is get there before January 4th or call them! Phone: 859-392-1919 The dates below are from PREVIOUS YEARS
  Ludlow, January 4: Ludlow City Park, 600 Elm St.
  Erlanger, January 5: Erlanger Public Works, 505 Commonwealth Avenue.
  Park Hills, January 6: Trolley Park, 1101 Amsterdam Rd.
  Villa Hills, January 7: Franzen Field, 729 Rogers Rd.
  Taylor Mill, January 8: Pride Park: 5614 Taylor Mill Rd.
  Covington, January 11: Kenton County Extension Center: 10990 Marshall Rd.
  Fort Wright, January 12: Fort Wright City Building: 409 Kyles Lane.
  Edgewood, January 13: President & Freedom Park: 283 Dudley Rd.
  Crestview Hills, January 13: Crestview Hills City Building: 50 Town Center Boulevard.
  Crescent Springs, January 14, Crescent Springs Park & Ride: 2304 Buttermilk Crossing.
  Lakeside Park, January 14: Lakeside Park City Building: 9 Buttermilk Pike.
  Independence, January 15: Memorial Park: 2003 Jackwoods Pkwy.
  Independence, January 15: Kenton County Public Works: 420 Independence Station Road.
• Lexington, KY - Christmas trees can be recycled with yard waste. If you are a city garbage customer, put your tree on the curb for normal collection day. Christmas trees are collected after the holiday through mid-January. Simply place the tree at the curb for pickup on your regular collection day after removing all lights, tinsel and ornaments. . Contact LexCall 3-1-1, or 425-2255 if Christmas Tree is not collected on your normal collection day. Apartment and businesses should call LexCall for information on Christmas tree pickup.
• Louisville, KY - residents are encouraged to recycle their natural Christmas trees, turning them into nutrient-rich mulch for free. Christmas Tree Composting. Starting Saturday, December 26, drop-off sites will be available for all Louisville/Jefferson County residents at four locations. The Hubbards Lane site will also instantly recycle Christmas trees into mulch that will be offered back to citizens for home use. Those wishing to receive mulch must bring an appropriate container in which to carry it. All lights and ornaments should be removed from trees before they are dropped off or set out for collection. Christmas tree vendors may recycle their unsold trees on Saturday, December 26 only, and only at the Hubbards Lane site.
  Curbside Collection
  Beginning December 26, residents with City curbside yard waste pickup may set their Christmas trees and greenery out on their regular collection day. Trees must not be in plastic bags, and all decorations must be removed. Residents normally serviced by private waste haulers should check with those companies to see whether and when tree pickup is available.
  Drop-off sites
  Starting Saturday, December 26 through January, Christmas Tree & Yard Waste Drop-Off Locations are open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Waste Reduction Center closes at 3 p.m. on Saturdays)
  All locations will close at 1 p.m. on Friday, December 31 and will be closed Saturday, January 1 and Saturday, January 15.
  • East District Recycling Center, 595 N. Hubbards Lane
  • Public Works Yard, 10500 Lower River Road (enter from Bethany Lane)
  • Waste Reduction Center, 636 Meriwether Avenue
  • Shawnee Park, 230 Southwestern Parkway (Athletic Complex)
  The Hubbards Lane site will instantly recycle Christmas trees into mulch that will be offered back to citizens for home use. Those wishing to receive mulch must bring an appropriate container in which to carry it. All lights and ornaments should be removed from trees before they are dropped off. Yard waste must be in compliance with curbside guidelines.
  -For every five trees recycled, approximately 35 pounds of mulch can be created and used to help new plant and tree growth. This mulch performs particularly well for acid-loving plants such as azaleas and rhododendrons.
• Pulaski County, KY -  KDFWR has drop-off point
  KDFWR Somerset Regional Office, 135 Realty Lane, Somerset, KY 42501. Phone: 606-677-4096.
  KDFWR will take your tree and combine it with others to create fish attractors for lakes all over the state. These brush reefs provide nesting and rearing habitat for gamefish as well as creating homes for invertebrates and smaller fishes that provide food for larger fish. Just clean your tree of all of the artificial decorations, lights, tinsel, ornaments, etc. and drop it off - click the link above for our locations list ! The program usually runs the first 2 weeks in January, daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
• Shelby County, KY -  KDFWR has drop-off points
  Guist Creek Lake Marina,  11990 Boat Dock Road, Shelbyville, KY 40065. Phone: 502-892-4464.
  KDFWR will take your tree and combine it with others to create fish attractors for lakes all over the state. These brush reefs provide nesting and rearing habitat for gamefish as well as creating homes for invertebrates and smaller fishes that provide food for larger fish. Just clean your tree of all of the artificial decorations, lights, tinsel, ornaments, etc. and drop it off - click the link above for our locations list ! The program usually runs the first 2 weeks in January, daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
• Warren County, KY -  KDFWR has drop-off point
  Southwest District Fisheries Office , Approximately one mile down Bennett Lane, just past Schneider Lane intersection, Bowling Green. Phone: 270-746-7127. .
  Cabela's Outpost, 3395 Nell O'Bryan Court, Bowling Green, KY 42103 Phone:l 270-936-8324
  KDFWR will take your tree and combine it with others to create fish attractors for lakes all over the state. These brush reefs provide nesting and rearing habitat for gamefish as well as creating homes for invertebrates and smaller fishes that provide food for larger fish. Just clean your tree of all of the artificial decorations, lights, tinsel, ornaments, etc. and drop it off - click the link above for our locations list ! The program usually runs the first 2 weeks in January, daily from 8 am to 5 pm.
  

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