When is the program?
The Christmas Tree Recycling Program runs annually. This years collection will take place January 14th, 2023.
For the past 29 years the City of Lethbridge and local youth groups have partnered to ensure that Christmas trees continue to give after the Holiday Season. Over 1.5 million kilograms or approximately 90,000 Christmas trees have been diverted from the landfill since the program began.
Volunteer to provide Christmas Tree Collection.
The
program provides for the collection of Christmas trees from all residences in the
City of Lethbridge. Delivery of the program involves a one day blitz across the
entire city to pick up all the Christmas trees that have been placed out.
For more information of the collection and on how to apply, click the link below:
How should my Christmas tree be placed for collection?
Place your tree at your regular garbage collection location (front or alley) but away from your waste collection cart.
Please ensure that all decorations, tinsel and lights are removed from your tree.
**Please note: Your Christmas tree may be collected over a couple days.**
What are some common reasons Christmas Trees are not picked-up?
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Incorrectly/late placed trees – By 7:00 Saturday, it should be in your alley or front of house, based on where your garbage is collected. The fundraising youth groups follow maps based on that information.
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Decorations, tinsel, plastic, tree stands not removed – the trees must be totally bare to be ready for the chipper. We instruct the fundraising groups to leave these trees so they do not damage the equipment.
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Human error (missed) – While we expect the youth groups to be thorough, we also recognize that they're not professional operations crews. Please contact 311 if this is the case. Thanks for your patience!
What happens to the Christmas trees after they are collected?
The collected Christmas trees are diverted from the City’s landfill and are chipped for environmentally friendly
mulch.
Are there other options for recycling my Christmas tree?
You can bring your tree to the
Waste & Recycling Centre, Monday to Saturday. Residents may choose to use a
Large Item Service and schedule a time to have their Christmas trees picked up (trees collected with this option will be disposed of with regular waste).
Yard Waste Sites are closed between November 14, 2022 - March 31, 2023.
What can I do with the rest of my holiday waste?
You can recycle many types of excess holiday waste like paper, cardboard, metal cans and plastics with #'s 1-7. Remember that wrapping paper, styrofoam, and plastic without #'s 1-7 cannot be recycled and must go in your garbage cart.
Please, no
styrofoam or
wrapping paper in your blue cart! For more information on What's In and What's Out,
click here.
Looking for ways to reduce waste this season?
For more information
Report a problem like missed collection or mess in lane
Phone: 311 or 403-320-3111 (if outside of Lethbridge)
Online: Service request options
