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, 2023-January 31, 2024.
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, 2023-January 31, 2024.
Open Monday through Friday 7am-2:45pm and Saturday 7am-11:45am. 
The trees are chipped and composted.

Grippen Park
607 S Grippen Ave, Endicott, NY 
Will accept trees from December 26, 2023-January 15, 2024.
Open during daylight hours daily. 
The trees are chipped and composted.

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.