Christmas Tree Recycling in Marin

As December draws to a close and the New Year begins, the 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 of course you have an artificial Christmas tree, in which case you can probably 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 most fire houses, throughout Marin County.

Keep in mind that you need to remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, and plastic tree bags from the tree before you put it out for pick up. (Don't forget to remove metal or plastic stands, too.)

Here's a rundown of Christmas tree disposal details for communities in 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 during the month of January. 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.

Marin Sanitary customers may drop off up to two Christmas trees during the month of January at the Marin Resource Recovery Center at 565 Jacoby Street in San Rafael. Drop-off is free, but a fee will be charged for flocked trees.

Mill Valley Refuse

For Almonte, Alto, Belvedere, Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Homestead, Strawberry, and Tiburon: Place trees along curb on any regular green can collection day, starting the week after New Year’s. Trees must be cut in five-foot lengths. Flocked trees are OK. Trees put out by garbage cans will not be picked up.

Novato Disposal

During the week of January 7 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.

You can also have your tree recycled as part of the San Marin High School Safe Grad Fundraiser. Tree pickup is $10 ($25 for flocked trees), and can be scheduled by calling (415) 899-9223 or emailing smtreerecycle@gmail.com. You can also drop off your tree ($5 donation) at the San Marin High School parking lot 9 am to 4 pm on December 29–31 and January 1, 5, and 6.

Sausalito/Marin City

Bay Cities Refuse customers in Sausalito and Marin City can recycle clean Christmas trees on their regular greencycle pickup day (January 11 or 25). Trees must be clean and no flocked trees are accepted.

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 yard waste cart for pickup on any regular service day. Flocked trees will not be collected.

West Marin residents may also drop off trees through January 15 from 8 am to 4 pm at the Point Reyes (4th and B Streets), Tomales (599 Dillon Beach Road), and Woodacre (33 Castle Rock Road) fire stations.

Tamalpais CSD

For Tam Valley residents: Cut trees into pieces no longer than two feet in length and two feet wide and place trees in your green waste cart on regular green waste collection day for free pick up. You may also place your tree curbside the week of January 8–11. After January 11, there will be a $15 fee for tree pickup.