Christmas Tree Recycling In Lake County: Drop-Off Sites

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County Forest Preserve encourages residents to drop off their Christmas trees at forest preserves throughout Lake County, instead of having them end up in a landfill. Donated trees are chipped and used for trails and landscaping at forest preserves throughout Lake County, according to a news release.

Now through Feb. 1, you can bring your tree to a drop-off site at one of the following forest preserves, open daily from 6:30 a.m. to sunset:

• Grant Woods in Fox Lake — Monaville Road entrance, second parking lot.
• Greenbelt in Waukegan — next to maintenance facility.
• Half Day in Vernon Hills — next to maintenance facility.
• Heron Creek in Long Grove — Shelter A.
• Lakewood in Wauconda — along Forest Preserve Drive.
• Old School in Libertyville — near main entrance.
• Ryerson Woods in Deerfield — at the end of main entrance road.
• Van Patten Woods in Wadsworth — just past the Shelter A parking area.

Only real Christmas trees, from which all ornaments, lights, tinsel and other decorations have been removed can be accepted, according to the news release. No yard waste or commercial drop-offs will be accepted.

In Lake Zurich, the Village said free pickups and recycling begin Monday, Jan. 6, and run for two weeks. Place the tree — free of lights, ornaments, decorations and stands — next to your garbage cans on your regular pickup day, the Village requests.

More: lcfpd.org/holiday-tree-recycling/