Recycle Your Christmas Tree and Get Some Free Mulch

Residents can turn their Christmas trees into enriching and reusable mulch by dropping them off at two convenient neighborhood locations.

The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation in partnership with the Chicago Park District will running its annual tree recycling program through Jan. 16 at parks throughout the city.

The drop-off locations for Mt. Greenwood, Beverly and Morgan Park residents are Kennedy Park, 2427 W. 113th St. and Mt. Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th St.

Free mulch will be available at Mt. Greenwood Park for residents to pick-up beginning on Jan. 11.

The live trees can be dropped off inside tree corrals at these locations. Ornaments, lights and tinsel must be removed before the tree is dropped off. The tree recycling program is not able to accept wreaths or garlands. Trees should be removed from any bags when placing them in the tree recycling corrals.

Last year, the program recycled nearly 18,000 trees.

“Recycling Christmas trees is an easy way for residents to make a big impact on the environment. Each year this program helps divert waste from landfills and provides residents with reusable mulch,” Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Charles L. Williams said in a press release.

Visit the Streets and Sanitation Department website for more information on Chicago’s recycling program.