How Can I Responsibly Dispose of My Christmas Tree?

Hey, good question! I'm so glad you want your Christmas tree to go somewhere better than the landfill. Even though it's not so couth to keep it decorated in your house through the new year (and it's probably super dry by now), Christmas trees are still very beneficial to natural habitats.

Many parishes (and counties in other states) accept Christmas trees during the first few weeks of January, with the purpose of recycling or composting them.

Whether you recycle your tree yourself, or place it on the curb, the most important step is the first one. Take the time to ensure the tree is completely stripped. No ornaments, no lights, no tinsel, no flocking and no tree stand!

Image: Monte Hewett Homes

Want to recycle your Christmas tree yourself?

  • If you, or a friend or family member, have a camp or private fishing spot, sink your Christmas trees to create habitats for the fish.
  • Have a wood chipper? Create your own mulch for your flower beds and landscape. Or just use the branches as ground cover.
  • Don't burn your tree, especially in your indoor fireplace. They are a major fire hazard. An outdoor bonfire can be okay, if it's far enough away from your house. But watch your eyebrows!

Will my city pick up my tree and recycle it?

  • Lafayette and unincorporated areas of the parish: Trees are collected on your regular yard waste day, and are brought to the LCG compost facility, where they are processed into soil amendment.
  • Youngsville, Broussard, Carencro, Scott and Duson: You can bring your Christmas trees to the compost facility in north Lafayette and drop it off for six dollars.
  • Jefferson Parish: Curbside pickup of undecorated trees starts on January 7, 2016, throughout unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Gretna, Harahan, Kenner, Lafitte and Westwego. Garbage trucks will make one pass through each neighborhood to collect trees on January 7, 8 and 9. Trees will either be placed in the Goose Bayou marsh near Lafitte to help protect and restore Jefferson's coastal wetlands, or they will be brought to Wood Materials, LLC to be chipped and used for composting.
  • Terrebonne Parish: Place your Christmas trees with your normal trash pickup from January 4 to January 8, 2016. Residents may also drop off Christmas trees before January 8 at any of the TPCG residential drop-off sites at 263 Ashland Landfill Road, 651 Isle of Cuba Road in Schriever or 160 Crochetville Road in Montegut. The Christmas trees collected from local residents are placed into retention fences, also called cribs that have been constructed along the Intracoastal Waterway near the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge. These trees provide an effective wave-break which can reduce the erosion of our fragile marshes. 
  • Hammond: Southeastern Louisiana University will again collect used Christmas trees in partnership with area businesses and government agencies as part of its annual Christmas tree collection effort designed to enhance wetland restoration efforts in the Pass Manchac area. Trees can be dropped off beginning December 26 through February 9 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hammond Maintenance facility, 18104 Hwy. 190, next to Piggly Wiggly Super Market. The Southeastern Sustainability Center, 2101 North Oak Street, will collect trees beginning January 5 through the end of the month from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 to 10 a.m. on Friday. 
  • Pearl River: Trees may be brought to the water tower located behind the Pearl River Town Hall December 26 through January 7. They'll be recycled to help protect and rebuild Louisiana's coastal wetlands.
  • East Baton Rouge Parish: Curbside collection will happen January 11-January 23, 2016. The cities of Baker and Zachary will have one pickup each during that time. Multiple drop-off sites will collect trees from December 26-January 30. All trees will be mulched.

Do you have recycling information for a city or parish not listed above? Email me (caitlin@ecocajun.com) and let me know, and I'll update the list!

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