How To Dispose Of Christmas Trees In Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — As the holiday season wraps up, Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection is reminding residents that live-cut trees can be collected and composted or chipped, keeping trees in a natural state.

Montgomery County accepts Christmas trees year-round in its curbside yard trim recycling collection. Residents should place their Christmas tree at the curb by 7 a.m. on their recycling collection day.

“Proper disposal of Christmas trees is a simple yet impactful way for our community to take advantage of our County’s environmental practices and to start the new year by thinking green,” said County Executive Marc Elrich in a news release. “We can recycle live trees and wreaths into products like mulch that continue to benefit nature. I encourage everyone discarding live trees and wreaths to recycle them.”

The time to say farewell to your live Christmas tree will depend on when you got it, what condition it is in, and whether it was properly watered.

Live Christmas trees can pose a fire hazard as they dry out, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The organization says Christmas tree fires aren't common, but can grow quickly when they occur. Nearly one in three Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical issues, and one in five are due to a heat source too close to the tree.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends getting rid of your live Christmas tree after Christmas or when it is dried out. Once removed, Christmas trees should not be left in homes, garages or leaning against homes.

Residents of single-family homes and townhomes who receive Montgomery County-provided weekly curbside recycling collection service:

• Live-cut Christmas trees are accepted year-round.
• Residents should place their trees or wreaths curbside by 7 a.m. on their regularly scheduled recycling day.
• All trees, wreaths and other live branches must be free from lights, decorations and plastic.
• Wreaths, roping and other decorations made with live branches and needles also are accepted for recycling and must be separated from any wire and metal used to bind them.
• Live trees with root balls, or that have their roots intact, cannot be collected as yard trim.

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

Collected trees are taken to the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station, where they are shredded and chipped for mulch.

Residents also can take their trees to the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station and drop them off for recycling. The facility is located at 16105 Frederick Road in Derwood.

The County accepts light strings in the electronic recycling drop-off area at the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer station. For information about retailers who accept string lights, visit the DEP website here.

Branches and needles can be recycled at home by placing them under trees and shrubs as a temporary winter mulch. They also can be chopped up and added to a compost pile.

Artificial trees cannot be recycled, but if residents have an artificial tree that is in usable condition and they no longer want it, they can offer it for reuse on a neighborhood list serve, local Freecycle group or similar network.

Residents with county-provided trash service who want to dispose of an artificial tree can schedule a bulk trash pick-up collection online or by calling 311. Residents with privately provided trash service should check with their collection company for instructions.

For more information about Christmas tree recycling collection, visit the DEP website.