THE LEAFLET

With the closing of the holiday season, it is time to find out best practices for your holiday trees and greenery. Read below to find out where and how to dispose of your holiday tree in the DMV. Also be sure to remember to remove all decorations, lights, and bags from your tree before collection.

Want to know whether the curbside trees you walk by are pines or spruces? Check the needles! On pine trees, needles are attached to the branches in clusters; on spruce trees, needles are attached individually. More ID tips here.

Tree collection programs:

DC

• DC Department of Public Works (DPW) collections for holiday trees and greenery begins January 3rd through February 28th.
• For DPW-serviced single-family homes and apartments with three or fewer units.
  • Trees will be collected from the front of the residence at the curb.
  • Trees and greenery collected during this time will utilized for mulch production to support Mayor Bowser’s Zero Waste initiative.
• All residents can also drop off holiday trees and greenery at three locations Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 4 PM until March 31st, 2025:
  • Bryant Street Sweep Shop (201 Bryant St. NW)
  • Guy Mason Recreation Center (3600 Calvert St NW)
  • DPW Salt Storage Facility (2700 South Capital St., SE)

If Holiday trees and greeneries are not picked up 7 days after being placed curbside, residents can call 311 and make a “Christmas Tree Removal – Seasonal” service request.

Montgomery County

• For a single-family home or townhomes
  • Montgomery County accepts year-round collections of yard trim. (“Live” Christmas trees with root balls and artificial trees cannot be collected as yard trim.)
  • Place trees at the curb by 7am on your recycling collection day.
• For apartments and condominium or businesses
  • Check with your property manager for specific recycling instructions.
• For artificial trees
  • Make a bulk trash pickup request.

Prince George’s County

• Collections run from January 2nd to January 30th.
• Curbside pick-up
  • Place trees at the curb by 6am on your yard trim collection day.
• Drop off locations:
  • Brown Station Road Public Container Pad & Recycling Center (3501 Brown Station Road)

Fairfax County

• Collections run from January 6th to January 17th.
• After January 15th you can schedule a brush special pickup for natural holiday trees.

Throughout the holidays, District residents are also encouraged to recycle holiday food containers like eggnog cartons, cans, and pie tins. Non-metallic wrapping paper can also be recycled along with empty, flattened gift and cardboard shipping boxes. Holiday ribbon is not recyclable and should be placed in the trash. String LED lights can be dropped off at Fort Totten Transfer Station at John McCormack Road NE for electronic waste recycling. Check your local hardware stores to see if they recycle string lights as well.