Holiday Recycling

HOW TO RECYCLE YOUR TREE

Christmas trees are recycled into mulch or compost. Be sure to remove all decorations, plastic bags and tinsel before disposal.


FREE Drop-off Locations -- RESIDENTS ONLY

NYSDEC
Sub-office:1679 Route 11,Kirkwood, NY
Will accept trees between 8am and 4pm from December 26, 2024-January 31, 2025.
The trees are chipped and spread along hiking trails in the parks.

Broome County Landfill
286 Knapp Rd., Binghamton, NY  
Will accept trees at the residential drop-off area located at the landfill from December 26, 2024-January 31, 2025.
Open Monday through Friday 7am-2:45pm and Saturday 7am-11:45am. 
The trees are chipped and composted.

There will be NO Christmas tree drop-off at Grippen Park this year. 

Residents with municipal and private curbside service should contact their garbage hauler for more information.

Holiday Waste Reduction Tips

  • Recycle non-metallic wrapping paper, gift boxes and cards.
  • Make your own wrapping paper from the Sunday comics, old maps, magazines, paper bags, or scarves
  • Donate unwanted toys or clothing to charitable organizations.
  • Use shredded paper as a packing material for shipping gifts
  • Recycle your Christmas tree by mulching it and using it for landscaping.
  • Remove your name from mailing lists to prevent receiving unwanted catalogs or mail.

Tips to Shop By

  • Look for items with little or no packaging.
  • Buy durable reusable items.
  • Give a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant, the movies, museums, or the zoo. 
  • Bring your own bags shopping.
  • Buy a live tree and plant it in your backyard after the holidays.
  • Purchase holiday cards made from recycled paper with the highest post consumer content.

Holiday Recycling Facts

  • From Thanksgiving to New Years Day, household waste increases by more than 25%. Added food waste, shopping bags, packaging, wrapping paper, bows and ribbons - it all adds up to an additional 1 million tons a week to our landfills. 
  • 2.1 billion Christmas cards are sent to friends and loved ones every year, making Christmas the largest card-sending occasion in the United States.
  • The amount of cards sold during the holiday season would fill a football field 10 stories high, and requires the harvesting of nearly 300,000 trees.