Oh, Christmas tree. Now that the holidays are over, that once-festive tree is shedding pine needles all over the place, and it’s time to get that thing out of your home. Why not do the environmentally friendly thing and recycle it?

 

Luckily, there are many options for this, including plenty of places to drop off that conifer. You can even feed it to goats!! Just make sure you take all the lights and decorations off first. And, as with everything, be sure to mask up and maintain your distance to keep everyone safe.

The Schuylkill Center

Now through January 10, 10 am–4 pm

8480 Hagys Mill Rd.

 

Evergreen trees provide extra warmth, shelter, and comfort for wildlife patients staying at the Schuylkill Center over the winter. Make sure your tree is still green and fresh, and completely free of ornaments, wire, tinsel, or any other materials. To minimize contact, there will be a designated spot in the driveway to safely unload.

Philly Goat Project

January 9 and 23, 10 am–1 pm: The Farm at Awbury, 6336 Ardleigh Street

January 30, 10 am–noon: Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center, 3850 West Ford Road

 

Contribute $20 and your Christmas tree towards charity in support of the Philly Goat Project. 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.

 

 

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Passyunk Square Civic Association

January 9, 9 am — 3 pm
Columbus Square Park, 13th and Wharton streets

 

This location asks for a $5 donation (Square and Venmo available) per tree to offset the cost of chipping them into mulch for local parks. Trees can be also can be dropped off at this location the week before the event.

SOSNA

January 9 and 10, 9 am — noon
1601 Washington Ave. (or schedule pickup on January 9)

 

The South of South Neighborhood Association is doing drop off and pickup! Sign up in advance online and choose from drop off at 1601 Washington Ave. for a $5 donation, or a scheduled pickup (January 9 only) for a $20 donation. All donations are tax-deductible and support Friends of Carpenter Green Park maintenance and programming for 2021. Trees and greens of all shapes and sizes are accepted.

LoMo Civic Association

January 9, 9 am — noon; and January 10, noon—3 pm

South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St.

 

Come Saturday or Sunday and drop off your tree. Be sure to remove lights, bags, ornaments, and stands first. A donation of $5 is requested. The trees will be turned into wood chips for gardening.

Friends of Orianna Hill Park

Through January 12

Southwest end of Liberty Lands Park (behind Kaplan’s)

 

Bring your naked tree (no plastic, tinsel, ornaments, or wire) to be chipped and used as groundcover at the dog run.

UC Green

January 10, 9 am — noon (Clark Park) and 11 am—2 pm (Malcolm X. Park)

 

UC Green will be offering treecycling at two different neighborhood locations on January 10. Trees will be mulched and used to aid the park trees. A donation of $5-$20 is requested.

Philadelphia Streets Department Sanitation Convenience Centers

January 4 — 16
Monday — Saturday, 8 am — 6 pm

 

You can drop your tree off for free at one of the Streets Department’s Centers. The locations are:

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

Philadelphia Streets Department Saturday-Only Neighborhood Drop-Off Sites

January 9 and 16, 9 am — 3 pm

 

In addition to those everyday sanitation center locations, there are 13 Sanitation Convenience Centers accepting your tree for free on two Saturdays in January:

 

Curbside Pickup by Circle Compost

January 16

 

If you live within Circle Compost’s service area (much of the city is included), you can sign up online for $20 curbside pickup. 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.

 

 

 

 Lead photograph by Laura Swartz.