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Christmas Tree Recycling in Marin

Christmas Tree Recycling

As the New Year begins, time comes bid farewell to your Christmas tree. It's a sad but inevitable fact of life that your tree has to go at some point, unless you have an artificial Christmas tree, in which case you can stop reading right here.

Fortunately, your local disposal agency is usually more than happy to take your dried out old noble fir off your hands and do the green thing with the tree by recycling it. If for some reason you can't leave your tree out by the curb with your yard waste, you can drop it off at a number of different locations, including all Marin County Fire Department stations, throughout Marin County.

Keep in mind that you need to remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, decorations, and plastic tree bags from the tree before you put it out for pick up. (Don't forget to remove metal or plastic tree stands, too.) Here's a rundown of Christmas tree disposal details for communities in Marin. You can also find a list of Christmas tree drop-off locations at Zero Waste Marin.

Marin Sanitary

For Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Las Gallinas Valley, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Fairfax, and Ross Valley (Sleepy Hollow and Oak Manor): Trees will be collected at the curb on your regular yard waste pickup day from January 2–12. One pickup per residence. If trees are greater than 6 feet in length, please cut them in half. Remove all metal stands, plastic tree bags, and ornaments. Flocked trees will not be accepted. Residents may also drop off up to 2 unflocked trees for free at the Marin Resource Recovery Center at 565 Jacoby Street in San Rafael; there is charge for flocked trees.

Mill Valley Refuse

For Almonte, Alto, Belvedere, Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Homestead Valley, Strawberry, and Tiburon: Place trees along curb on any regular green compost cart collection day, starting Monday, January 2. Trees over 5 feet tall must be cut in lengths measuring 5 feet or less for easier handling. Trees put out by garbage cans will not be picked up.

Novato

From January 2–6, customers may place whole trees at the curb the night before their regular collection day. Additionally, trees may be cut to fit inside your yard waste container for collection on your regular service day. Remove all lights, tinsel, ornaments and stands. Flocked trees will not be collected.

Sausalito/Marin City

Bay Cities Refuse customers in Sausalito and Marin City can recycle clean Christmas trees on their regular greencycle pickup day. Trees must be clean and no flocked trees are accepted. Trees over 7 feet must be cut in half.

West Marin

For Bolinas, Forest Knolls, Inverness, Marshall, Muir Beach, Nicasio, Olema, Point Reyes Station, San Geronimo, Stinson Beach, West Marin and Woodacre: Cut trees to fit inside your compost cart for pickup on any regular service day. Flocked trees will not be collected.

West Marin residents may also drop off trees December 26 through January 12 from 8 am to 5 pm at the Point Reyes (4th and B Streets), Tomales (599 Dillon Beach Road), and Woodacre (33 Castle Rock Road) fire stations.

Tamalpais CSD

Place your tree by the curb January 9–12. Trees over 6 feet tall should be cut in half. Pick up before or after January 9 and 12 will cost extra.