Idaho: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays January 2024

Scroll down this page for local Idaho recycling and responsible disposal options for holiday waste, from Christmas trees and wreathes, to lights, ornaments, wrapping and packaging. Many towns and cities offer curbside collection, even for Christmas trees. Counties and unicorporated areas typically have a number or drop-off locations.

Christmas trees are usually colllected from December 26th through the first 2 or 3 weeks in January.  Whether your tree is picked up from your curb, or you drop it off, be sure to remove all  remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands,  other NON-Organic decorative materials and other materials that are not part of the original tree. This includes tree stands also.  Flocked trees are occasionally accepted (call to verify), but not artificial trees. Large trees (larger than the standard 6 - 7 ft tree) may need to be cut in half to be acceptable by your curbside garbage hauler.

The trees and wreathes are usually chipped and made into a mulch which is often made available, free to city or county residents.

Recycling other items:

• See this page for local options to easily recycle your Christmas holiday lights
• To find out how to recycle almost any other type of Christmas holiday waste from wrapping paper to toys and electronics, see this page. Ornaments and light strings are usually placed into your curbside collection bin. Some localities have year-round collection centers. The same is true of wrapping paper and boxes. 

Always follow the links (usually the blue, underlined name of the city or county) below for updated information, as these agencies often wait until the last minute to change dates or update their information. If your area is not specifically mentioned below, call your trash collection agency and ask!

Idaho: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays January 2024

• Boise - Christmas Tree Recycling - Christmas trees will by picked up by BFI/Allied Waste during the first week of January. Christmas trees set out for collection must be free of lights, ornaments, tinsel, and stand. They must be cut to 4-ft. lengths or smaller. Flocked trees and wreaths are not accepted. Please note the following guidelines:
  Trees must be free of lights, ornaments, tinsel, and stand.
  Trees must be cut to 4-foot lengths or shorter. Tree branches must also be bundled and weigh less than 60 pounds.
  Flocked trees and wreaths are not accepted.
  The Ada County Landfill will accept Christmas trees at no charge from December 24 to mid-January
  Participating in tree collection program saves space in your trash cart and helps Boise achieve sustainability.
• Blackfoot, Idaho - The city has brought back the Christmas tree bonfire at the end of January or start of February.
  Look for an announcement on their website or local newspapers for the date and location to take your tree near the end of January.
• Idaho Falls, ID
  Trees should be dropped off at one of the many collection sites. See their locations on this map. They have a mulch pile created from leaves and discarded Christmas trees. This mulch is free only to City of Idaho Falls residents and information can be obtained by calling the division
• Pocatello, Idaho - There are Christmas Tree Collection Boxes at the locations below for dropping off Christmas trees. Do not put their trees on the curb; take them to the following locations between December 26th and mid-January:
  Pocatello City Hall at 911 N. 7th Ave.;
  Rainey Park at South Arthur Avenue; or
  Sister City Park at Pocatello Creek Road.
  CHRISTMAS TREES WILL NOT BE COLLECTED CURBSIDE.
• Rexburg, ID - Christmas Tree Clean Up-Every year after New Years Day our street department will come pick up your Christmas tree at no cost. Place it on your curb in front of your home or on the curb by the entrance of your aparmtent complex the week following New Years Day. You do not need to call or make an appointment.
  
• Twin Falls, Idaho - For a $5 donation, the parks department will take whole trees to be chipped for mulch from 9 am to 3 pm. on Saturday, in early January at 1234 Highland Ave., Twin Falls. Remove ornaments, tinsel and lights.
  (208) 734-9491. Call the department to confirm - RThere is NOTHING online this year about it.
  [email protected]
  
  
• All other areas of the state (just enter your zip code on the page that comes up)
  
  

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