A live tree with festive decorations is a delight through the Christmas season, but it won’t last forever. Plan now for how you will dispose of the tree when the season is done. Here are some tips from the Plant Clinic experts at The Morton Arboretum.

Prevent fire hazards: Dispose of your tree as soon as it shows signs of drying out to prevent it from becoming a fire hazard. Needles will become brittle and start to fall off, and the tree will no longer take up water. Never burn your evergreen tree in a fireplace or wood stove. It may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.

Recycle: Check with your municipality or waste management company about local tree recycling or disposal arrangements, including when and where trees will be picked up or whether you need to take your tree to a recycling site. Recycled trees are chipped into mulch or compost. In some municipalities, the fine-smelling mulch that results can be picked up to spread in your garden.

Trees only, please: Only the actual tree can be recycled. Be sure to remove all decorations, and if you use a plastic tree bag to carry the tree from the house, take the bag off outside. Trees that aren’t bare will go to a landfill instead of being recycled. Flocked trees—those covered in white synthetic powder to suggest snow—can’t be recycled; they must be thrown away in the regular trash. Don’t try to recycle garlands, wreaths, or anything that contains wire, which could damage the shredding machinery. Discard those items in the trash.

Protect plants: Branches cut from your tree can help protect plants in your garden. Laid over beds, they will insulate the soil so it doesn’t heat up in winter warm spells and cause plants to come out of dormancy too early. This is most useful in beds that are in full sun.

Shelter wildlife: If you have the space, consider leaving the whole tree in your yard to provide a winter refuge for wildlife. In spring, cut up the tree and dispose of it through your municipality’s landscape waste disposal program.

For Lisle, IL, residents:

On Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and Wednesday, January 7, 2026, LRS will be collecting live Christmas trees at no additional charge for residents of Lisle, IL. Trees must be placed at the curb next to other weekly garbage and recycling items for collection, no later than 6:00 a.m. on one of the two scheduled refuse pickup days above. The village asks that you please remove all ornaments, tinsel, lights, and tree stands before setting trees out for collection. Live trees that are in plastic bags or wrapped in plastic will not be removed. Any trees that need to be removed beginning or after Wednesday, January 14, 2026, are required to have one refuse sticker attached for collection by LRS.

For other communities in DuPage County:

Visit this helpful page from SCARCE for additional options for communities in DuPage County. Remove all ornaments, decorations, and string lights. Do not bag the tree. No artificial trees can be accepted.

For Chicago, IL, residents: 

The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, in partnership with the Chicago Park District, is hosting its annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program at 27 locations throughout the city. Chicago residents are welcome to drop off their natural holiday trees inside the designated tree recycling corral at each location found on the city’s recycling program map.

The city asks that you please remove all tinsel, lights, ornaments, tree stands, and plastic bags from your tree before placing it in the corral. The holiday trees will be chipped to create mulch, which will be available to residents for free pick up at six of the locations starting Monday, January 5.