Christmas Tree Recycling

Published Monday, December 15, 2025

Live Christmas trees will be picked up for recycling beginning December 26, 2025 through January 9, 2026. Residents with curbside collection (meaning they have trash cans that they wheel out to the curb each week for collection) can recycle their Christmas trees by placing them in their green waste carts on their regular collection day, provided they meet the following requirements.

• Trees must be cut into a maximum of four (4) foot long sections and must fit completely inside the green waste cart.
• Ornaments, lights, tinsel and tree stands must be removed.
• Flocked trees (real or fake trees covered in a white, powdery material to mimic real snow) cannot be recycled but will be collected if cut into four (4) foot long sections and placed completely within the trash cart.

Santee residents without curbside collection can drop off trees through January 9, 2026 at the WM Recycle Center located at 925 O'Connor Street, El Cajon between 7 AM to 4 PM Monday - Friday and 7 AM to Noon on Saturdays.