December 24, 2025
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Over 20 dropoff sites will be available next month across the city to recycle Christmas trees for $5 or less. Or you can get it picked up at your door for $20.
Part of enjoying a beautiful Christmas tree before the holiday is actively blocking out the thought of what a pain getting rid of it will be.
But in the spirit of encouraging eco-friendly options, we've made a list of ways to plan ahead to recycle your Christmas tree in Philly instead of just putting it out to the curb on trash day.
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Here's a rundown of some options, from feeding the evergreens to goats to hiring a compost company to pick up your tree.
For the eighth year running, the Philly Goat Project will return with a series of Christmas tree recycling events that support the nonprofit's mission to put its trained farm animals in service of social connection. The goats love to eat the remnants of Christmas trees, and what they leave behind becomes wood chips for trails.
This year's three events will be held Saturday, Jan. 10, (rain day Jan. 11) at the Farm at Awbury Arboretum; Saturday, Jan. 17, (no rain date) at Laurel Hill West Cemetery; and Saturday, Jan. 24, (rain date Jan. 25) at the Farm at Awbury Arboretum again.
The events are open to everyone — with or without a Christmas tree — and will feature a goat photo booth, games, fire pit and s'mores.
There's a $20 donation requested for dropping off trees with proceeds going to year-round community goat walks, children's literacy events, animal-assisted therapy and other programs.
If you don't feel up to driving your Christmas tree to a recycling event, Bennett Compost is available for scheduled pickups and will take your tree to the city's sanitation centers. Just head to the link at the top of their website and enter your information to book them to do the job. The service costs $20.
The annual Fishtown Treecycling event will be held Jan. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the former Greensgrow Farms site at 2501 East Cumberland St. The suggested donation is $5.
The Northern Liberties Neighbors Association will collect trees at Liberty Lands park. They can be dropped off on Third Street near the fire hydrant. Wood chips from the trees will go directly into Orianna Hill Park for dogs to play in fresh mulch. The suggested donation is $5 to be paid via Venmo at @libertylands.
A tree recycling event is scheduled Saturday, Jan. 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Columbus Square Park at 1200 Wharton St. The suggested donation is $5, which can be paid via cash or Venmo.
The Lower Moyamensing Civic Association will hold its annual Christmas tree recycling event on Saturday, Jan. 3, and Sunday, Jan. 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Philadelphia High School (2101 S. Broad St.). There is a $5 donation per tree.
Circle Compost will take appointments for Christmas tree pickups on Jan. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18. The organization serves Center City and surrounding neighborhoods, West Philly, South Philly, Manayunk and Roxborough. The service costs $20 and time slots can be scheduled at Circle Compost's website.
The city's Christmas tree recycling program will run from Monday, Jan. 5, through Saturday, Jan. 17. All trees must be cleared of decorations and untied. The dropoff locations and sanitation centers where trees can be recycled free of charge are shown in the chart below. Trees also can be placed curbside for pickup on regularly scheduled trash days, but they will not be recycled.
| Location | Drop-off dates | Times |
| Cathedral Road & Ridge Avenue | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Gravers Lane & Seminole Street | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| 300 Domino Lane | Jan. 5-17 (except Sundays) | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. |
| Washington Lane & Ardleigh Street | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Wayne Avenue & Logan Street | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| 7901 Ridgeway Street | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| 1400 Cottman Avenue | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| State Road & Ashburner Street | Jan. 5-17 (except Sundays) | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. |
| Castor Avenue & Foulkrod Street | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| 3901 N. Delaware Avenue | Jan. 5-17 (except Sundays) | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. |
| 2601 W. Glenwood Avenue | Jan. 5-17 (except Sundays) | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. |
| 54th Street & Woodbine Avenue | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Corinthian Avenue & Poplar Street | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| American Street & Thompson Street | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| 43rd Street & Powelton Avenue | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Broad Street & Christian Street | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| 5100 Grays Avenue | Jan. 5-17 (except Sundays) | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. |
| 3033 S. 63rd Street | Jan. 5-17 (except Sundays) | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. |
| 15th Street & Bigler Street | Jan. 10 & 17 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
