The hustle of the holidays is nearly over and the King County Solid Waste Division is ready to help you handle one post-Christmas task, recycling the old Christmas tree.

Recycled Christmas trees are turned into wood chips that can be used as a landscaping material, or combined with other organic material to become a compost soil amendment for gardens.

When you recycle the family Christmas tree, it saves room in the landfill for the stuff that really needs to be there.

The King County Solid Waste Division recommends these Christmas tree recycling options.

Curbside pickup

If you have curbside yard waste collection service, you can place your tree at the curb with your regular yard waste. Restrictions vary, so call your city or garbage hauler for information.

Private companies

Many private yard waste facilities in King County collect Christmas trees for recycling – at rates much cheaper than disposal. Visit King County’s “What Do I Do With…?” Type in Christmas tree in the search box and click the search button for a list of private companies that accept Christmas trees.

Fundraising events

Many community groups sponsor Christmas tree-cycling fundraising events. For a small donation, they will deliver your tree to a commercial recycler. Flyers will be available in your neighborhood during the holiday season. By recycling at these events, you can support a worthy cause while helping the environment.