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Christmas Tree Recycling Guide 2023 – CURBSIDE HAULING

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The holiday season is here! Many communities in San Diego County have options for Christmas tree recycling at your curbside collection and is a great way to help divert your Christmas tree from the landfill following the holiday festivities.

Drop-off locations by community can be found here.

Still not sure where to take your Christmas tree for recycling after reviewing this list? Visit WasteFreeSD.org for more options or call I Love a Clean San Diego’s hotline for help from a live attendant Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

Incorporated County Residents, please call 1-800-237-BLUE

Unincorporated County Residents, please call 1-877-R-1-EARTH

Curbside Hauling Instructions by City

NORTH COUNTY SAN DIEGO 

Community

Collection Days

Instructions

Waste Hauler

Carlsbad

The City of Carlsbad and Republic Services are offering free, curbside pickup for holiday trees Dec. 26, 2023 to Jan. 14, 2024
  • Remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands.
  • Trees taller than 6 feet must be cut in half and placed inside of or next to your green waste cart.
  • When possible, residents are asked to cut down the tree so that it fits inside the green waste cart with the lid closed for collection.
  • Flocked and artificial trees cannot be recycled and must be disposed of through regular trash service. These trees must fit into the trash cart with the lid closed for collection.
Republic Services
(760) 332-6464

Del Mar

Year-round
  • Remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands.
  • Trees taller than 4 feet must be cut in half and placed next to your green waste cart.
  • When possible, residents are asked to cut down the tree so that it fits inside the green waste cart with the lid closed for collection.
  • Flocked and artificial trees cannot be recycled and must be disposed of through regular trash service. These trees must fit into the trash cart with the lid closed for collection.
EDCO Disposal (619) 287-7555

Escondido

Year-round
  • No tinsel or ornaments
  • No nails
  • No tree stands
  • Cut tree to fit inside green organics cart on your regular trash collection date.
  • Flocked trees are not accepted
Escondido Disposal (760) 745-3203

Encinitas

Year-round
  •  Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and
    the tree stand
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
  • Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed
  • No flocked trees in green organics cart, flocked and artificial trees should go into landfill bin
EDCO (760) 744-2700

Oceanside

For Oceanside residents, holiday trees are collected curbside for three weeks after Christmas, until January 12 on customer’s scheduled collection day.
  • All decorations should be removed, including tree stands and lights
  • Trees should be cut in half and placed in the green organics cart with lid closed, or can be set curbside next to the green waste cart.
  • For trees placed curbside, a separate vehicle from the green waste cart collection truck will be picking up the trees on curbside services collection day.
  • Artificial and flocked trees are not recyclable, and must be placed in landfill cart with lid closed or may be collected curbside next to the landfill cart. If artificial trees have lights that are not removable, they must be recycled with  E-waste.
Waste Management
(760) 439-2824

Solana Beach

Year-round
  • Cut tree in pieces 4-ft or smaller and put in green organics cart
EDCO
(858) 350-8544

Poway

Year-round
  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand
  • Trees over four feet should be cut in half
  • Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed
  • No flocked trees are accepted
  • Artificial trees are not recyclable and must be placed in trash
EDCO
(760) 201-1578

Ramona

Year-round
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches.
  • Place tree inside green organics cart for collection on your service day.
  • No flocked trees.
Ramona Disposal
(760) 789-0516

San Marcos

Year-round
  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
  • Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed
  • Artificial and flocked trees are not recyclable and must be placed in trash
EDCO
(760) 744-5615

Vista

Year-round
  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand
  • Trees over four feet should be cut in half
  • Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed
  • Artificial and flocked trees are not recyclable and must be placed in trash
EDCO
(760) 727-1600

Unincorporated San Diego County (including 4S Ranch, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Julian, Mount Laguna, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, Ranchita, Santa Ysabel, Valley Center, and Warner Springs)

 

If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.

Year-round
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches.
  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand.
  • Place tree inside green organics cart for collection on your service day. No flocked trees.
Ramona Disposal
(760) 789-0516

Unincorporated San Diego County (including 4S Ranch, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Julian, Mount Laguna, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, Ranchita, Santa Ysabel, Valley Center, and Warner Springs)

If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.

Year-round
  • Remove all ornaments, tinsel, garland, and plastic or metal stands.
  • Cut/section the tree in pieces 4ft or shorter. Place inside the correct container (flocked or plastic trees = trash, natural tree = green organics container*).
  • Drivers will not service trees left outside the container. All tree portions must be INSIDE the correct container. If you do not have a green container on-site, please place the natural tree in a separate location near the trash container, following the preparation guidelines mentioned previously.
Republic Services
(619) 421-9400.

Unincorporated San Diego County (including 4S Ranch, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Julian, Mount Laguna, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, Ranchita, Santa Ysabel, Valley Center, and Warner Springs)

If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.

Year-round
  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
  • Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed
  • Artificial and flocked trees are not recyclable and must be placed in trash
EDCO
(760) 744-2700
or
Fallbrook Refuse

Unincorporated San Diego County (including 4S Ranch, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Julian, Mount Laguna, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, Ranchita, Santa Ysabel, Valley Center, and Warner Springs)

If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.

If you currently have green waste services, Waste Management will collect and recycle Christmas trees for the first two weeks following Christmas from December 26 to January 9 on your scheduled collection day.

If you do not have green waste services, please contact Customer Service at (619) 596-5100 to schedule the pick-up of your Christmas tree for a nominal fee.

  • Remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands.
  • Trees taller than 6 feet must be cut in half and placed inside WM organics cart.
  • Flocked trees cannot be recycled, so please cut them to fit into your trash cart and they will be collected by your trash collector.
Waste Management
(760) 439-2824

CENTRAL SAN DIEGO 

Community

Collection Dates

Instructions

Waste Hauler

Coronado

Year-round
  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and
    the tree stand
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
  • Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed
EDCO
(760) 744-5615

City of San Diego

Residents can use their City-provided curbside green bin to recycle their Christmas trees. Trees should be cut to fit into their green bin for pickup on collection day.
  • Both green and flocked trees (fake snow) are accepted.
  • Trees over 4-ft in length should be cut in half.
  • For Greenery, curbside, and drop-off sites, all tree stands, bags, netting, lights, ornaments, tinsel, and other tree decorations must be removed.
  • No artificial trees.
  • Please do not illegally dump any other items at the drop-off locations.
Environmental Service Department
(858) 694-7000

EAST COUNTY SAN DIEGO 

Community

Collection Days

Instructions

Waste Hauler

El Cajon

Year-round
  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and the tree stand.
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches, then place in green organics cart with the lid closed.
  • No flocked trees
EDCO
(760) 744-5615

La Mesa

Year-round  

  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
  • Place trimmed tree inside your green waste cart with the lid closed
  • No flocked trees in green organics cart
EDCO
(760) 744-5615

Lemon Grove

Year-round  

  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
  • Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed
EDCO
(760) 744-5615

Santee

December 26th, 2023 – January 9th, 2024 during regularly scheduled collection day
  • Residents can recycle their Christmas trees by placing the trees in their yard waste bins on their regular pick-up day.
  • Trees must be cut into maximum 4-ft sections and must fit into the green yard waste container.
  • Ornaments, tinsel and tree stands must be removed before being recycled.
  • Flocked trees cannot be recycled, but will be collected if cut into 4-ft sections and placed into the regular trash bin.
Waste Management
(760) 439-2824

Unincorporated San Diego County (including Alpine, Boulevard, Campo, Crest, Dehesa, Descanso, Dulzura, Guatay, Jacumba, Jamul, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Potrero, Rancho San Diego, Spring Valley)

If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.

If you currently have green waste services, Waste Management will collect and recycle Christmas trees for the first two weeks following Christmas from December 26 to January 9 on your scheduled collection day.

If you do not have green waste services, please contact Customer Service at (619) 596-5100 to schedule the pick-up of your Christmas tree for a nominal fee.

  • Trees taller than six feet must be cut in half.
  • Please remove all decoration including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands and place in WM Organics cart.
  • Flocked trees cannot be recycled, so please cut them to fit into your trash cart and they will be collected by your trash collector.
Waste Management
(760) 439-2824

Unincorporated San Diego County (including Alpine, Boulevard, Campo, Crest, Dehesa, Descanso, Dulzura, Guatay, Jacumba, Jamul, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Potrero, Rancho San Diego, Spring Valley)

If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.

Year-round
  • Remove all ornaments, tinsel, garland, and plastic or metal stands.
  • Cut/section the tree in pieces 4ft or shorter. Place inside the correct container (flocked or plastic trees = trash, natural tree = green organics container*). Drivers will not service trees left outside the container. All tree portions must be INSIDE the correct container. *If you do not have a green container on-site, please place the natural tree in a separate location near the trash container, following the preparation guidelines mentioned previously.
Republic Services
(619) 421-9400

Unincorporated San Diego County (including Alpine, Boulevard, Campo, Crest, Dehesa, Descanso, Dulzura, Guatay, Jacumba, Jamul, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Potrero, Rancho San Diego, Spring Valley)

If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.

Year-round
  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and
    the tree stand
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
  • Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed
EDCO
(760) 744-5615

SOUTH BAY SAN DIEGO 

Community

Collection Days

Instructions

Waste Hauler

Chula Vista

Year-round
  • Place tree at the curb on your regular collection day. Remove all ornaments, tinsel, garland and plastic or metal stands.
  • When possible, cut tree into four-foot sections. Plastic trees are NOT recyclable and must be disposed of as trash!
  • Apartment and condominium residents please contact your manager or HOA.
  • Residents of single-family homes, please place tree at the curb on your regular collection day. Remove all ornaments, tinsel, garland and plastic or metal stands.
  • When possible, cut tree into four-foot sections.
  • Flocked and plastic trees are NOT recyclable and must be disposed of as trash!
  • Residents with any questions can call 619-691-5122 or email EnvironmentalServices@chulavistaca.gov
Republic Services
(800) 421-9401

Imperial Beach

Year-round
  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
  • Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed
EDCO
(760) 744-5615

National City

Year-round
  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
  • Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed
EDCO
(760) 744-5615

Unincorporated San Diego County

(including Bonita)

If you currently have green waste services, Waste Management will collect and recycle Christmas trees for the first two weeks following Christmas from December 26 to January 9 on your scheduled collection day.

If you do not have green waste services, please contact Customer Service at (619) 596-5100 to schedule the pick-up of your Christmas tree for a nominal fee.

 

  • Trees taller than six feet must be cut in half.
    Please remove all decoration including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands and place in WM organics carts.
  • Flocked trees cannot be recycled, so please cut them to fit into your trash cart and they will be collected by your trash collector.
Waste Management

Unincorporated San Diego County

(including Bonita)

Year-round
  • Remove all ornaments, tinsel, garland, and plastic or metal stands. Cut/section the tree in pieces 4ft or shorter. Place inside the correct container (flocked or plastic trees = trash, natural tree = green organics container*).
  • Drivers will not service trees left outside the container. All tree portions must be INSIDE the correct container. *If you do not have a green container on-site, please place the natural tree in a separate location near the trash container, following the preparation guidelines mentioned previously.
  • For more information, all customers can contact Republic Services Customer Service at 619-421-9400.
Republic Services

Unincorporated San Diego County

(including Bonita)

Year-round
  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and
    the tree stand
  • Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
  • Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed
EDCO

Contact your waste hauler to confirm collection dates and instructions.