Christmas Tree Recycling in Chatham County

Do you ever wonder what happens to all the live Christmas trees after the holidays are over? Approximately 28 million real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. every year, but what should be done with all these trees once the New Year has come and gone? Recycle them, of course.

Chatham County Waste Management

Christmas trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Chatham County Waste Management is encouraging residents to recycle their personal trees by taking advantage of a post-holiday period when real trees will be accepted at no charge.

Christmas Tree-cycling Program

Offered by the county, the Christmas tree program provides an easy way to recycle and “go green” this holiday season. The recycled trees will be ground into a mulch product, along with the other yard waste collected from the program on a year-round basis. This mulch is put into winter composting piles and will be available in the spring for purchase.

County residents may bring their real trees to the Main Waste Management Facility, at no charge, from 7am to 3:30pm on the following dates:

• January 3-7
  January 10-14

The Main Waste Management Facility is located at 720 County Landfill Road, off Hwy. 64, just a few miles west of Pittsboro toward Siler City. Businesses will be charged the regular $20 per ton fee for yard waste recycling. Get directions.

Remember, trees are considered yard waste and are banned from NC landfills. Yard waste is not accepted at Chatham County Collection Centers.

IMPORTANT: Please remove ALL decorations, lights, bulbs, tinsel, wires, stands, and pots. If your tree was wrapped in burlap, remove that as well. Do not bring artificial trees. Consider donating them, instead. Residents with a current decal can also place them in the Swap Shops at Chatham County Collection Centers if they are still in good condition.

For more information on composting and mulch, visit the Chatham County Waste Management website.