Christmas Tree Recycling :: Who, What, Where, When & Why

Christmas Tree Recycling :: Who, What, Where, When & Why

Who

The Department of Sanitation, the City’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability and the Louisiana National Guard work with a series of solid waste contractors to ensure your trees get recycled or reused in an efficient way. In Jefferson Parish, the JP Department of Environmental Affairs works in collaboration with the Christmas Tree Marsh Restoration Project to sort, bundle and reuse your trees.

Why

Christmas tree recycling is available in most parishes across the state but New Orleans has its own unique way (like everything else!) of reusing the trees. Trees collected during the below windows will be picked up, bundled and repurposed to promote costal & wetland restoration. Trees are stacked and positioned as retention fences and provide an excellent wave break, particularly in the intercostal waterways. Some parishes even use the recycled trees for mulch for their community areas.

What

Only trees that are au natural or free from tinsel, trimmings or flocking will be collected. Any trees that have lights, decorations or tree stands attached will be transported to the local landfill, so please take some time and bring that tree back to its original state prior to putting it out by the curb. The city has also asked that no trees be placed in the neutral ground for pickup.

Where & When: GNO

  • Orleans Parish
    • Residents who receive solid waste collection services by the City’s contractors Richard’s Disposal and Metro Service Group, in service areas 1 and 2, are encouraged to recycle their Christmas trees.
    • Residents are asked to place their trees curbside before 5 a.m. on January 8th. Properties in the French Quarter or DDD, serviced by Empire Services, should place their trees curbside before 4 a.m. on Thursday, January 11th.
    • Trees are not to be placed on the neutral grounds.
    • Residents seeking more information should call NOLA 3-1-1.
  • Jefferson Parish
    • Residents in Un-incorporated Jefferson Parish and the Town of Jean Lafitte should place trees curbside on the morning of January 10th. Christmas trees will be collected curbside through January 13th. Fill out this form to expedite the process and have it picked up faster.
    •  For more information please call (504) 736-6719.
  • St. Tammany
    • Drop off locations for tree recycling are at St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds, 1515 North Florida Street in Covington and The Old Levee Board Property, 61134 Military Road in Slidell during daylight hours.

Where & When :: Outside of GNO

  • Ascension Parish, Louisiana
    • Residents wishing to dispose of their Christmas trees can drop them off at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center beginning December 28.
    • The expo center is at 9039 St. Landry Road in Gonzales. After residents enter the expo center’s main gate on St. Landry Road, the drop off location will be the unpaved parking area on the left side as you enter the property.
    • The tree drop off program runs through mid January.
    • For more information please call (225) 450-1506.
  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    • Christmas tree curbside recycling will begin the second week in January with service scheduled to run through the 3rd week of January. The Christmas tree curbside recycling program is available for all East Baton Rouge Parish residents, with the exception of residents inside Baker and Zachary city limits.
    • Trees must be placed curbside a minimum of three feet from other garbage and unbundled trash, with tinsel, strands, lights, and ornaments removed from trees.
    • Residents will be able to drop off their Christmas tree for recycling at the following locations from December 26th through late January:
        • Independence Park, parking lot off Lobdell between tennis courts and Liberty Lagoon
        • Highland Road Park, 14024 Highland Road
        • Memorial Stadium, grassy lot near the corner of Scenic and Foss
        • Flannery Road Park, 801 S. Flannery Road
        • LSU, Skip Bertman Drive, lot across from Vet School
  • Monroe, Louisiana
    • Christmas tree recycling from December 26 to Friday of the first full week in January or residents may drop off trees at the Monroe Civic Center or Walmart parking lot on Lamy Lane.
  • Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
    • There are several drop off locations throughout the parish; trees can be dropped off starting in the first week of January.
      • Hammond Maintenance Facility, 18104 Hwy. 190 in Hammond (next to Piggly Wiggly Super Market); Hours 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, starting December 26 through the end of January
      • Southeastern Sustainability Center, 2101 North Oak Stree in Hammond, Hours 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday, through the end of January
      • Middendorf’s Restaurant in Manchac, 30160 U.S. 51, Akers, LA 70421
      • Home Depot and Lowe’s Hammond locations
  • Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
    • Place Christmas trees in the area of normal garbage pickup from early January through the end of the second week of January.
    • Residents may also drop off their Christmas trees at the following locations:
      • 236 Ashland Landfill Road, Houma
      • 651 Isle of Cuba Road, Schriever
      • 160 Crochetville Road, Montegut
  • West Carroll Parish, Louisiana
    • Drop off from December 26 to early January at Poverty Point State Historic Site, just west of Epps Town Hall. There will be an area fenced with orange construction fence.

Don’t forget to leave your tree naked for pickup; no decorations, lights or stands.

Do you know of information for tree recycling in our neighboring parishes? Please email us at [email protected] so we can add to this list. 

Jaime Mackey
Originally from Florida, Jaime has lived in Southern Louisiana for most of her life (so, that makes her a local, right?). She currently resides on the Northshore with her husband and son and teaches high school English. An enneagram 5, you'll most likely find her doing hot yoga solo, on her phone researching a random topic or sitting in the comfort of her home with coffee and a book within an arm's reach.

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