The lights are off, the tinsel's down, and it's time for your Christmas tree to leave the party. But where can you dispose of a Christmas tree in London? Here's our borough-by-borough guide.
But wait! Before we get stuck into the whats and wheres, here are a few points to keep in mind:
- Waste collection days often change over the festive period, as do reuse and recycling centre opening hours. Remember to check with your borough for any amendments.
- It may sound obvious, but councils only accept the tree, the whole tree and nothing but the tree (and only real trees — artificial ones should go to the tip if you really need to chuck them). That means removing any pots, soil or decorations beforehand.
- It's often necessary to break your Christmas tree down into smaller pieces, especially if it is being collected in your garden waste bin.
- Common sense prevails. In areas where you can leave your tree out to be collected with your usual refuse, make sure it's in clear sight but not obstructing the pavement.
- Dumping your Christmas tree randomly on the street counts as fly-tipping and can carry a fine. You've been warned.
Barking and Dagenham
Barking and Dagenham won't take your tree away as part of your collections, but they have special drop-off points for real Christmas trees, open 6-8 January 2025. Alternatively, take it to the Frizlands Lane tip.
Barnet
Barnet residents should leave their Christmas tree at the boundary of their property on Saturday 11 or Saturday 18 January 2025 by 6am for collection. Make sure it's been cut in half and that all decorations have been removed.
Bexley
Good news for... some Bexley residents. Bexley Council will collect your Christmas tree but only if you're signed up to the garden waste service. This service is suspended over Christmas but picks up again on 6 January 2025, so make sure you've removed all decorations, cut the tree in half, and placed it next to your garden waste bin by collection day.
Brent
An impressive 22 different Christmas tree drop-off points are opening to Brent residents between 26 December-6 January. See the website for a full list and map to find your nearest, as well as details of specific staffed drop-off points on Saturdays 11 and 18 January 2025.
Alternatively, those signed up to the garden waste collection can pop their tree in there (chopped and stripped, of course). Otherwise, you can pay £40 for a one-off bulky waste collection (combine it with anything else you've been meaning to get rid of — you can dispose of up to five items at once) or take it to the Reuse and Recycling Centre, Abbey Road, NW10 7TJ (closed 25-26 December and 1 January).
Bromley
If you're signed up to the green garden waste bin collection service, chop your tree up and pop it in there (it must be in the bin for it to be collected, chopped up if necessary). Otherwise a number of temporary recycling centres where you can dispose of your tree will pop up across the Bromley borough for the weekend of Saturday 11 (Norman Park, Bromley; Salt Depot, Green Street Green; and Cotmandene, St Paul's Cray) and Sunday 12 January 2025 (Unicorn Primary School, Beckenham, and Charles Darwin School, Biggin Hill).
Christmas trees can also be recycled at Waldo Road and Churchfields Road reuse and recycling centres, but remember to take proof of address with you if you're planning to drop sprucey off there.
Camden
Camden is opening a number of Christmas tree recycling points across the borough from 2-12 January 2025 – these range from local squares, to car parks, to garden centres, and are for Camden Borough residents only. Find your nearest one on this handy Christmas Tree Recycling Point Map. Note that the City of London isn't collecting Christmas trees on Hampstead Heath this year, but a new drop-off point is being trialled at Polygon Road Open Space (at the end of Charrington Street).
Garden waste subscribers can chop and pop the tree in their usual garden waste bin, or you can take your tree to Regis Road Reuse and Recycling Centre.
City of London
The City of London operates a Christmas tree collection service where residents can call the City of London Contact Centre (020 7606 3110) to arrange for it to be picked up. Trees collected by this service will be mulched and used in parks and gardens. Alternatively, if you live on an estate, contact your Estate Office or concierge for details about where and how you can recycle your tree.
Croydon
Croydon Council will collect your real Christmas tree if you leave it out for collection by Monday 6 January 2025. Alternatively, if you subscribe to the garden waste collection service you can pop it in there. Or, take it to a recycling centre.
Ealing
Leave your tree next to your refuse collection (black bin) to have it taken away the same day the bin is emptied, 6-24 January 2025. Alternatively, Ealing Council has a list of parks and open spaces where Christmas trees are being collected, or you can take it to the Greenford Refuse and Recycling Centre (you'll need to prebook for that one).
Enfield
If you live in Enfield and subscribe to the garden waste service, you can put your real Christmas tree out for collection with that on your usual collection day (chop it so it's shorter than 6ft or it won't be taken). Otherwise, take it to one of several collection points in parks around the borough (full list here) until 12 January 2025, or Barrowell Green Recycling Centre or the Edmonton Eco Park.
New for this year North London Hospice is introducing a Christmas tree recycling service to selected postcodes in Enfield, in exchange for a donation to the Hospice.
Greenwich
In Greenwich, real cut-up Christmas trees can be put in your green top food and garden waste bin. Alternatively, take them to a recycling centre.
Hackney
If you have a garden waste collection, Hackney Council will collect your tree as part of that. If you don't have a garden waste collection, there are drop-off points at Clissold Park, Hackney Marshes, Haggerston Park, Millfields Road Depot and Hackney Downs Park, open 2-31 January 2025.
Hammersmith & Fulham
Hammersmith & Fulham will kindly collect your tree as part of your normal waste collection — check the website closer to the time for specific dates. Simply leave it out the front of the property on your collection day. There are also 10 designated drop-off points around the borough, including Bishops Park and Ravenscourt Park.
Haringey
Food/garden waste collections crews in Haringey will collect your tree. Chop it into pieces no longer than 1m long, then leave it out with your bin on normal collection day. If you live in flats with communal bins, leave it with the communal waste before the end of January. Interestingly, the website requests that you do not put your tree down any communal rubbish chutes in your building — which is a certain sign that someone has done this at least once before now.
Otherwise, take it to the Haringey Recycling Centre in Wood Green, or one of the five drop-off sites in parks, 26 December 2024-12 January 2025.
Harrow
There don't seem to be any specific collection arrangements in place in Harrow, but you can recycle your tree by dropping it off yourself at the Harrow Recycling Centre in Wealdstone. Note that this centre is for Harrow residents only, and you need to bring both photo ID and a proof of address such as a utility bill.
Havering
If you're a garden waste or compostable sack service customer, simply chop it and chuck it in your garden waste bin. Otherwise, Gerpins Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre will take your tree off your hands.
Hillingdon
Christmas trees will be collected throughout January as part of residents' weekly garden waste collection in Hillingdon — just cut it in half and place it next to your garden waste on a usual collection day. Flat-dwellers can also leave their trees out for collection between 6-17 January 2025, but you have to email [email protected] to let them know they need to call by.
Hounslow
Christmas trees will be collected by the council between 6-17 January 2025, but do note that Christmas tree collection takes place on alternate weeks to your general rubbish collection. More details on the London Borough of Hounslow website here. If you're a resident of a flat without the black wheeled bin service, contact your resident association to arrange a bulk collection. Alternatively take it to one of the six collection points (Hanworth Air Park, Hounslow Heath, Redlees Park, Bedfont Lakes, Space Waye, Turnham Green).
Islington
If you have a door-to-door recycling service, Islington will collect your real Christmas tree for recycling. You can also recycle your tree at your local Reuse and Recycling Centre. Or, look out for details of collection points when announced this year.
Kensington & Chelsea
Kensington & Chelsea residents are encouraged to take their trees to one of several drop-off points around the borough between 2-19 January 2025. Alternatively, the council will collect it from your house on your usual collection day between 2-17 January 2025, although make sure the tree is out the front by 7am or you may miss it. Residents living in flats should ask their property manager if there's a separate collection in place, otherwise it'll need to be taken to one of the drop-off points.
Kingston
Leave your Christmas tree next to your black wheelie bin from 6 January 2025, and Kingston Council will take it away within two weeks. Otherwise, the recycling centre off Villiers Road will take it off your hands at any time.
Lambeth
Lambeth Council will collect your real Christmas tree if you leave it out with your bins on your normal collection day, from 6 January 2025. Note that space is limited so they may not be able to collect them all in one day — if yours is missed, leave it out again on your next collection day. Alternatively, take it to the Smugglers Way or Vale Street Recycling Centres, or the special tree drop-off point at Clapham Common, off Windmill Drive.
Lewisham
At time of writing, Lewisham Council hasn't announced details of its Christmas 2024/January 2025 Christmas tree collection scheme. Check back on the website closer to the time.
Merton
Put your tree out for collection by Monday 6 January 2025, and it'll be collected as soon as possible. Otherwise, put it out with your garden waste if you subscribe to that service, or take it down to the Garth Road Recycling Centre.
Newham
Newham will collect Christmas trees for free, but you do need to book your collection. You can also take it to Jenkins Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre.
Redbridge
Redbridge residents should leave their Christmas trees out the front of their properties for collection between 6-17 January 2025. Leave yours out by 6am on Monday 6 January to make sure it isn't missed. Otherwise the Chigwell Road tip accepts garden waste, including real Christmas trees.
Richmond
Richmond will collect your tree for recycling between 6-17 January 2025 on the normal garden waste collection day. Note, you don't have to be a garden waste collection subscriber to have your tree collected. Alternatively, you can take it to one of the seven drop-off points across the borough (27 December-24 January).
Southwark
Southwark will take your tree away with your food and garden waste collection. If it's taller than 5ft, you'll need to chop it into smaller pieces first. If you don't have that service, you can request a free collection, or take it to the Reuse and Recycling Centre just off the Old Kent Road.
Sutton
Sutton Council usually collects trees from the kerbside. Check the website closer to the time for this year's details. Alternatively, take it to the Villiers Road Household Reuse and Recycling Centre.
Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets residents who have a food and garden waste collection can leave the tree out as part of that. Those who do not have kerbside collection services should speak to their caretaker or management company, or take it to the Reuse and Recycling Centre on Yabsley Street.
Waltham Forest
Waltham Forest offers a free tree collection service, as long as it's not longer than 6ft. If you have a brown wheeled bin, leave it out next to (not inside) that bin the evening before your collection date. If you're in a property with communal bins, you need to book a separate Christmas tree collection.
Wandsworth
Wandsworth Council will collect your Christmas tree if it's left outside with your rubbish on the usual collection day from 6 January 2025. Alternatively there are six drop-off points around the borough, and the Smugglers Way reuse and recycling centre is another option.
Westminster
There's no kerbside collection service for Westminster residents. Instead, take your tree to one of 25 the drop-off points, open from 26 December 2024 to 19 January 2025.
