As the holiday season winds down, many North Texas residents face the same post-Christmas dilemma: what to do with that once-fragrant, now-shedding evergreen taking up space in the living room.
Cities across Dallas-Fort Worth have rolled out their annual Christmas tree recycling programs, with options ranging from curbside pickup to designated drop-off locations. Most programs kicked off December 26th and will run through mid-January, though specific end dates vary by municipality.
Dallas: Multiple Options Available
Dallas residents can dispose of natural Christmas trees through the city’s brush and bulky trash collection or take advantage of dedicated drop-off locations. “Christmas trees are accepted for recycling at Bachman Transfer Station (BTS) and McCommas Bluff Landfill (MBLF),” the city confirms on its website. The recycling period runs from December 26 to January 24, but remember to remove all decorations, lights, and stands before disposal.
For those seeking an alternative to city services, 4DWN is offering tree drop-offs at 2633 Ferris St. through January 26, with weekday hours from 3-6 p.m., Saturday 2-6 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m.-noon, according to their announcement.
Fort Worth and Arlington: Size Matters
Fort Worth residents can place their natural trees with regular yard trimming collection after stripping all decorations, stands, and plastic. The city also maintains four drop-off stations open Monday through Friday (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Saturday (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for those who prefer not to wait for scheduled pickup, as detailed by local officials.
In Arlington, there’s a height restriction to consider. Trees up to six feet tall qualify for regular trash collection through the second Friday of the New Year (January 12). What about those towering nine-footers that barely fit through your front door? They’ll need to be cut in half for collection. After January 9, all trees must be cut into four-foot bundles and placed with yard waste, the city indicates.
Northern Suburbs: From Mulch to Compost
Frisco has perhaps the most environmentally focused approach, recycling live trees into compost and mulch. Trees should be placed three feet from trash carts on regular collection days, with those over five feet cut into four-foot or 60-pound sections to facilitate processing.
Plano residents have a shorter window for disposal. Trees can be dropped off at Old Shepard Place Park, Russell Creek Park, or Schell Park from December 26 to January 3 only. One important note: flocked trees (those with artificial snow) aren’t accepted in Plano’s program.
McKinney offers curbside composting pickup through Frontier Waste Solutions from December 26 to January 16. Apartment dwellers haven’t been forgotten – specific parks accept drop-offs, including wreaths and garlands.
Free Mulch and Other Perks
Looking for some return on your holiday investment? Grand Prairie’s program might be the answer. After dropping off your tree at Ikea or Grand Prairie Landfill (December 26 to January 11), residents can pick up free mulch – a nice bonus for winter gardening projects.
Irving’s “Christmas Tree Roundup” runs the same dates, with drop-offs accepted at Cottonwood Creek Park, Hunter Ferrell Landfill, Los Colinas Service Center, or Southwest Park. Unlike Grand Prairie’s free offering, Irving makes mulch available for purchase.
Denton and Garland keep things simpler, recommending residents set trees out for regular brush collection or drop them at municipal landfills. In Denton, trees exceeding six feet should be cut in half, while Garland accepts trees at C.M. Hinton Jr. Regional Landfill.
For Mansfield residents, the local Home Depot at 1725 N US 287 serves as the community’s drop-off point from December 26 to January 17, though the store won’t accept flocked or artificial trees, as reported by local media.
Remember that almost all municipalities require the same basic preparation: remove all ornaments, tinsel, lights, stands, and plastic bags before recycling. It’s a small step that ensures these holiday centerpieces can be properly repurposed rather than taking up space in landfills.
As your living room gradually returns to normal, that dried-out fir or pine that once held pride of place can now serve one final purpose – becoming mulch for next spring’s gardens or compost for future growth. Not a bad second act for a Christmas tradition.
