How to Recycle or Dispose of Christmas TreesWhere and How to Recycle or Dispose of Christmas Trees in Sarasota County Florida after Christmas 2023 and in January 2024

How to Recycle or Dispose of Christmas Trees

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 Grinding Christmas trees into mulchnot 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.

Sarasota County Florida: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays January 2024

Sarasota County - Click here for locations, updated information and more details. Christmas trees - cut into 4 ft long peices; picked up curbside on regularly scheduled yard waste day. Place old Christmas trees at the curbside on your normal yard trash
collection day. Remove lights, tinsel, and all other decorations. Cut tree down t4-foot-long pieces.

Holiday Recycling and Garbage - Recycling Tips and Reminders:

Lights
Recycle old lights at large hardware retail stores.
DO NOT put them in your recycling bin.
Styrofoam Packing Material
Dispose of Styrofoam packing material in the garbage.
DO NOT recycle block or loose Styrofoam packing material.
Many package shipping stores will take packing peanuts for reuse.
Electronics
Call 941-493-4100 to schedule curbside collection of old televisions and computer monitors.

  • Other items that may be collected curbside are listed below. A complete list and preparation instructions can be viewed in the Residential How-To Guide.
    • Appliances
    • Electronics* (no TVs or monitors-may be placed curbside)
    • Bulk waste
    • Construction wastes (limited to four, 32-gallon containers, each weighing 40 lbs. or less)
    • Garbage
    • Over-sized waste (furniture, mattresses)
    • Recyclables
    • Tires
    • Used Motor Oil
  • Check out, what happens to the items placed in your recycling bin.

Wrapping Paper
DO NOT recycle foil/metal coated wrapping paper.
Remove ribbons and bows.
Place other non-metallic wrapping paper in your red bin.
Cards
DO NOT recycle cards that have metal components or decoration.
Recycle other cards and envelopes in your red bin.
Boxes
Cut boxes down ttwfeet by three feet and recycle in your red bin.

Collection Hours
Monday to Friday, 6 am to 8 pm
No collection service provided on New Year's Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Service will be delayed one day for the remainder of the holiday week.
Any regular Friday collection delayed by a holiday will occur on Saturday.

For Easter egg Hunts, Children's Consignment Sales, Local Farm Markets and other types of Farms, click here.