When, How To Dispose Of Your Christmas Trees In Forsyth County

CUMMING, GA — With Christmas Day come and gone, some people like to remove their Christmas trees right away, while others may want to keep them up for a while. But it really depends on the condition of the tree.

When you got the tree, what condition it was in at that time and how much it was watered factor into when you should take the tree to the curb. Fire officials recommend getting rid of trees immediately or when they get dry. Dried-out trees can catch fire more easily.

Luckily for Forsyth County residents, there are plenty of options to dispose of your tree.

Keep Forsyth County Beautiful's annual Bring One for the Chipper event offers free Christmas tree recycling at Recycling Convenience Centers and other locations.

NOTE: Natural trees only. No artificial trees, lights, decorations, plastic bags, or bases.

Trees are ground up and made into wood chips, available at no cost to county residents at the Coal Mountain Recycling Center, 3560 Settingdown Road. Residents are responsible for loading and hauling their own wood chips.

To have a large load of chips delivered via Keep Georgia Beautiful, click here.

Christmas Tree Recycling Locations 2019-2020

Home Depot
1000 Market Place Boulevard
Accepting trees Jan. 4 only
No trees at this site after 4 p.m. on Jan. 4

Home Depot
2635 Peachtree Parkway
Accepting trees Jan. 4 only
No trees at this site after 4 p.m. on Jan. 4

Vickery Creek Elementary School
6280 Post Road
Accepting trees through Jan. 4, 9 a.m- 4 p.m.
No trees at this site after 4 p.m. on Jan. 4

Tolbert Street Recycling Convenience Center
351 Tolbert St., 770-781-2176
Open Monday - Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Accepting trees through Jan. 25

Old Atlanta Recycling Convenience Center
3678 Old Atlanta Rd., 770-205-3010
Open Monday - Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Accepting trees through Jan. 25

Coal Mountain Recycling Center
3560 Settingdown Rd., 770-781-2071
Open Monday - Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Accepting trees through Jan. 25

All three recycling convenience centers will be closed Jan. 1 in observance of New Year’s and Jan. 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means recycled or reused for mulch and other purposes. Here are some ways to recycle trees from the National Christmas Tree Association:

• Curbside pick-up for recycling: Many providers will collect trees during regular pickup schedules on the two weeks following Christmas. There are often requirements for size, removing ornaments, flocking, etc.
• Yard waste: Cut the tree to fit loosely into your yard waste container.
• Tree recycling/mulching programs: Tree recycling and mulching programs are a fast-growing trend in communities throughout the nation. Check with your local department of public works for information. They chip and shred the trees, then make the mulch available for use in your garden. Your hauler will notify you of pick-up dates in your area. Be sure to check with your local hauler.
• Nonprofit pickup: Call for an appointment to have a nonprofit organization in your area pickup your tree. Some Boy Scout troops offer a pickup service for a small donation.