Oh, Christmas tree. When the holidays end, that once-festive tree sheds pine needles all over the place, and it’s time to say goodbye. Why not do the environmentally friendly thing and recycle it?

Give Your Tree New Life

Philadelphia offers options to recycle your Christmas tree, including a handful of drop-off locations. You can even feed it to goats! Just make sure you take all the lights and decorations off first.

Bennett Compost

Weekends from December 27, 2025 to January 17, 2026
Register for pick-up on their website

Not sure what to do with your Christmas tree? Bennett Compost has you covered! Help make the holidays a little greener this year by composting your Christmas Tree and other living decorations. Keep these nutrient-rich organics out of landfills, and recycle them into compost for the garden.

Circle Compost

Weekends of January 3 & 4, 10 & 11, and 17 & 18
Register for their pick-up service on their website

Circle Compost has merged with Bennett Compost. But if you live within Circle Compost’s service area (much of the city is included), you can get rid of your tree for $20. Circle Compost will bring your tree to one of their nonprofit farm partner locations, and grind it up into wood chips. The chips will be used by the farms as mulch and also in the composting process. Trees will need to be placed outside of your house the Friday night of your pickup weekend, by midnight, with all ornaments/decorations removed.

Fishtown Neighbors Association

Saturday, January 10, 2026 from 10 am–2 pm
2501 E. Cumberland Street (former Greensgrow site)

This community collection site has a suggested donation of $5 to support Fishtown Neighbors Association. Your Christmas tree will be turned into mulch and help other parks or local green spaces.

Friends of Schuylkill River Park

Saturdays, January 3 and 10, 2026, from 9 am–2 pm
300 S. 25th St.

With a suggested donation of $20, this community collection site will turn your Christmas tree into mulch for future park plantings to live forever in the Schuylkill River Park.

Northern Liberties Treecycling

January 1–19, 2026
Liberty Lands, 919 3rd Street, Northern Liberties

Recycle your Christmas tree through January 19th by dropping it off at Liberty Lands, inside the park by the fire hydrant on 3rd Street. Please only bring “naked” trees with no decorations remaining. Christmas tree wood chips will go to cover the ground in the park. Suggested donation is $10. This treecyling event is sponsored by Penn Treaty SSD.

Passyunk Square Civic Association – Holiday Tree Recycling Event

Saturday, January 10, 2026 from 9 am–2 pm
Columbus Square Park, 13th and Reed Street

Turn your Christmas trees into mulch for local parks at this annual tree-cycling event. The association asks for a $5 donation (cash, PayPal or Venmo @passyunksquare) per tree to offset the cost of chipping them into mulch. When dropping off your tree, remove all decorations, and do not bring trees before the announced date. You can also volunteer to help.

Philly Goat Project

Saturdays, January 10 & 24, 2026, from 12–3 pm
The Farm at Awbury, 6336 Ardleigh St.

January 17, 2026, from 12–3 pm
The Conservatory at Laurel Hill West

For a suggested donation of $20 your Christmas tree helps to benefit Philly Goat Project in so many ways. Your tree will be eaten by the goats and/or turned into woodchips that help line the trails around Awbury Arboretum, the goats’ paddocks, or in parks around the city. Your donation will go towards the Philly Goat Project’s mission of using “Goats for the Greater Good” and providing free programming to our community.

Beyond the Christmas tree drop, activities during the farm festivals will include exploring the farm, a roaring fire pit, hot cocoa, and a petting area with the goats. You can join the fun even if you don’t have a tree! Just park and walk into the farm using Washington Lane entrance (look for the ambassadors to guide you). A “Quiet Visiting Area” will also be available for special friends.

Philadelphia Department of Sanitation – Christmas Tree Drop Off

January 5 –17, 2026
Mulitple drop-off locations

In addition to those everyday sanitation center locations, you can also drop off your trees during the Department of Sanitation’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program (see dates above). While the program is running, you may bring your Christmas tree to one of several designated locations or to a sanitation convenience center. Check for locations and updates on their website.

You can drop your tree off for free at one of the following Sanitation Convenience Center locations:

• 3901 N. Delaware Avenue
• 2601 W. Glenwood Avenue
• 5100 Grays Avenue
• Domino Lane and Umbria Street
• State Road and Ashburner Street
• 3033 S. 63rd Street

Recycling Your Christmas Tree

Bask in the new year’s energy by giving your tree new life through recycling. Philly offers plenty of convenient drop-off options for a fresh start. The holidays may be behind us, but winter adventures await!

Lead photograph courtesy of Philly Goat Project, by Love Me Do Photography. Laura Swartz contributed to the original version of the article.