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Christmas Tree Recycling

LA Sanitation & Environment has curbside collection for Christmas trees, making it convenient to properly and safely recycle your tree. There are several options.

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How to recycle your Christmas tree:

  1. REMOVE all decorations, tinsel, and stand from the tree.
  2. CUT* the tree into pieces, if needed, to fit into green bin.
  3. PLACE the tree pieces inside the green bin and put out for regular pick-up on collection day.
*If your Christmas tree is too big to cut and place inside the green bin, simply place the tree curbside next to your green waste bin on collection day.

Flocked trees and artificial trees can’t be recycled. Please place them in the black container to go to the landfill.

LASAN recycles Christmas trees and uses them to produce compost and mulch that is available to residents for free. Learn more here.

Tree safety tips

  • Buy a freshly-cut tree.
  • Keep the tree no less than three feet from heat sources.
  • Turn off tree lights while sleeping and away from home.
  • Water the tree daily so it doesn’t dry out as quickly.
  • Remove the tree from your home after Christmas or once it becomes dry.

What else can be recycled at the holidays?
Holiday wrapping paper, cartons, cardboard, Styrofoam® and other expanded polystyrene products, plastics and gift boxes are also recyclable and should be placed in the blue bin. However, it is illegal to place household hazardous waste, such as electronics (i.e. televisions and computers) and batteries into the collection bins. Please take those items to one of our S.A.F.E. Centers for safe disposal and recycling.

For homes serviced by LASAN, we are accepting extra cardboard that doesn’t fit in the blue bin. Please break down your boxes, then cut and tie into 4×4 bundles weighing no more than 30 pounds. Please place the bundles next to your blue bin, facing the street so our drivers can see them.

Multi-family Residential Recycling Program Participation 

Residents of multifamily buildings are requested to place their Christmas trees at the curbside on the collection day in your neighborhood. Whether you are serviced by LA Sanitation & Environment or a recycLA service provider, we will pick up your tree on your neighborhood scheduled collection day. You can check for the collection day from our homepage. Please remove all decorations, tinsel and stand from the tree. Artificial trees and flocked trees cannot be accepted – please place them in your black bin.

Mulching Facility Christmas tree drop-off

The following mulching facilities will accept trees until the end of January. Trees can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.  Holiday wrapping and packaging materials will not be accepted. Please remove all decorations, tinsel and stand from the tree prior to dropping it off. Artificial trees and flocked trees cannot be accepted – please place them in your black bin.

Lopez Canyon Environmental Education Center
11950 Lopez Canyon Road
Lake View Terrace, CA 91342Harbor Mulch Facility
1400 N. Gaffey Street
San Pedro, CA 90731

One-day drop off at Recreation and Park locations

Christmas trees can be dropped off on Sunday, January 3, 2021 at six Recreation and Park locations from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Holiday wrapping and packaging materials will not be accepted. Please remove all ornaments, decorations, tinsel and the stand from the tree prior to dropping it off. Artificial trees and flocked trees cannot be accepted – please place them in your black bin.

Los Angeles Zoo Parking Lot
Griffith Park, junction of Golden State (Interstate 5) and Ventura (State Route 134) FreewaysBaldwin Hills: Rancho Cienega Recreation Center
5001 Rodeo Road

Encino: Balboa Sports Center
17015 Burbank Boulevard

Rancho Park: Cheviot Hills Recreation Center
2551 Motor Avenue

Sunland Park
8651 Foothill Boulevard

Westchester Municipal Building
7166 West Manchester Avenue

Fire Station Christmas tree drop-off

The following fire station locations will accept Christmas trees until mid-January. They will not be accepting holiday wrapping and packaging material. Please remove all decorations, tinsel and the stand from tree prior to dropping it off. Artificial trees and flocked trees cannot be accepted – please place them in your black bin.

FIRE STATION #3
108 N. Fremont Avenue, 90012 – Civic Center / Bunker Hill
(213) 485-6203FIRE STATION #21
1192 E. 51st Street, 90011 – South Los Angeles
(213) 485-6221

FIRE STATION #28
11641 Corbin Avenue, 91326 – Porter Ranch
(818) 756-9728

FIRE STATION #29
4029 Wilshire Boulevard – 90010 – Hancock Park
(213) 485-6229

FIRE STATION #36
1005 N. Gaffey Street, 90731 – North San Pedro
(310) 548-2836FIRE STATION #44

1410 Cypress Avenue, 90065 – Cypress Park
(213) 485-6264FIRE STATION #64
10811 S. Main Street, 90061 – South Los Angeles
(213) 485-6264

FIRE STATION #65
1801 E. Century Boulevard, 90002 – Watts
(213) 485-6265

FIRE STATION #77
9224 Sunland Boulevard, 91352 – Sun Valley
(818) 756-8677

FIRE STATION #81
14355 Arminta Street, 91402 – Panorama City
(818) 756-8681
FIRE STATION #88
5101 N. Sepulveda Boulevard, 91403 – Sherman Oaks
(818) 756-8606FIRE STATION #94
4470 Coliseum Street, 90016 – South Los Angeles
(213) 485-6294

FIRE STATION #106
23004 Roscoe Boulevard, 91304 – West Hills
(818) 756-8606

For more information, please contact LA Sanitation & Environment’s 24-hour Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489.