Holiday trees and greenery in DC will be collected from homes that receive DPW curbside sanitation collection starting January 3rd. Items collected during this period will be composted; in the spring, the mulch will be provided to residents at no cost.
Want to know whether the curbside trees you walk by are pines or spruces? Check the needles! On pine trees, needles are attached and attached to the branches in clusters; on spruce trees, needles are attached individually. More ID tips here.
Highlights of the 2022 collection program include:
- Collection for DPW-serviced households. Residents who receive curbside collection service from DPW (single-family homes and apartment buildings containing three or fewer housing units) are eligible for Christmas tree and holiday greenery collection. Households not serviced by DPW (for example, larger apartment buildings) should consult with their landlord/property owner for collection procedures.
- Trees can be dropped off at these locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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- Benning Road Transfer Station: 3200 Benning Road NE
- Guy Mason Recreation Center: 3600 Calvert Street NW
- Where to place trees and greenery. DPW will collect Christmas trees and greenery from the front of the home. Residents should place those items in their tree box or at curbside.
- Remove decorations. When setting items out for collection, residents should remove all ornaments and lights. Do not place trees and greenery in a bag.
- Trees become free compost for residents. Trees and greenery collected through March 3, 2023 will be composted. District residents can collect up to five 32-gallon bags of the free compost year-round while supplies last at the Fort Totten Transfer Station. Residents must bring their own bags.
- Composting not guaranteed after March 3. After that date, residents can still place Christmas trees and holiday greenery where their trash is collected; however, composting is not guaranteed. The items will be picked up with the trash as space in DPW trucks permits.
- Steps if Christmas tree and/or holiday greenery was not collected. Contact 311 to create a “Christmas Tree Removal – Seasonal” service request.
Montgomery County
Montgomery County is continuing its year-round collection of Christmas trees with its curbside yard trim collection. Residents should put their trees on the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day.
Those with an artificial tree and have county-provided trash service, can ask for a bulk trash pickup for their tree.
Prince George’s County
Residents who have county-provided trash services can put their Christmas trees on the curb by 6 a.m. on Mondays, which are yard trim collection days., from Jan. 2 to Jan. 31. Other than Christmas trees, yard trim includes brush, grass clippings, leaves and small branches.
Additionally, residents can leave their trees at the Public Convenience Center on Brown Station Road in Upper Marlboro.
Fairfax County
The Park Authority reminds residents to put their Christmas trees at the curb. Trees that are under eight feet and set out at single-family and townhouse communities are collected in the first two weeks of January.
Also, residents can recycle their trees at the I-66 Transfer Station or the I-95 Landfill Complex.
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 the Fort Totten Transfer Station for electronic waste recycling.
