How To Get Rid Of Christmas Trees In Bethesda In 2023

BETHESDA, MD — As Christmas comes and goes, Bethesda residents will need to get rid of their live Christmas trees in the coming days. Christmas tree recycling will be provided in the coming days by Montgomery County.

When your Christmas tree needs to go out on the curb depends on when you got it, what condition it's in, and whether it was properly watered.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, trees that dry out can pose a fire hazard. The association recommends residents do not leave dried out trees inside homes or garages, or placed against the home outside.

Montgomery County's Department of Environmental Protection accepts Christmas trees year-round in its curbside yard trim collection. Residents should set their Christmas tree at the curb by 7 a.m. on their recycling collection day.

Residents should remove the stand and all decorations, including lights, ornaments, tinsel, and garland, from the tree, and be sure there is no metal attached to the tree. Also, trees should not be placed in plastic bags.

Montgomery County also suggests residents recycling Christmas tree branches and needles at home by placing them under trees and shrubs, or by chopping them up and adding them to a compost pile.

Residents of apartments and condominiums in Bethesda should check with their property manager or representative for specific recycling instructions.

Property managers of apartments and condominiums should make arrangements in advance for special collections. Christmas trees must be recycled based on Montgomery County Executive Regulation 1-15.

They should contact your solid waste/recycling collector or landscaping contractor to schedule special pick-ups in December and January and confirm that they recycle Christmas trees. Property managers also can self-haul the trees to the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station.

Property managers also should notify their residents of the special collection schedule, so they know when and where to bring their trees, wreaths, and roping. Trees must not be placed in roll-off containers with bulk trash and other debris.