When you are ready to be rid of your real Christmas tree, you can give it a second life. Recycling programs turn trees into mulch to be used in public parks and trails.

Christmas tree recycling in Wake, Durham, Fayetteville

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Wake County has several drop-off sites where you can recycle your Christmas tree. They are accepting trees – with tinsel, lights and decorations removed – through Jan. 26.

The following Wake County solid waste convenience centers are open for tree drop-offs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week:

  • Site 1 – 10505 Old Stage Road, Garner
    • Site 2 – 6120 Old Smithfield Road, Apex
      • Site 4 – 3600 Yates Mill Pond Road, Raleigh
        • Site 11 – 5051 Wendell Blvd./U.S. 64 Business, Wendell

          Additionally, the following Wake County parks will accept trees from 8 a.m. to sunset, seven days a week:

          • Green Hills County Park – 9300 Deponie Drive, Raleigh
            • Blue Jay Point County Park – 3200 Pleasant Union Church Road, Raleigh
              • Harris Lake County Park – 2112 County Park Drive, New Hill
                • Lake Crabtree County Park – 1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville

                  An even easier option is available for Raleigh residents. If the city of Raleigh picks up your garbage, all you have to do is leave your tree curbside, and it will be picked it up. Just leave it right on the ground on any regular garbage day through Feb. 6.

                  Artificial trees cannot be recycled; only live trees will be picked up for recycling.

                  In Fayetteville, residents can leave Christmas trees at the curb on their regular garbage pickup day. Residents should ensure that all ornaments, lighting, and metal decorations are removed before placing a tree at the curb.

                  In Durham, trees will be accepted for free disposal at the City’s Waste Disposal and Recycling Center (2115 E. Club Blvd.) from Jan. 2 until Feb. 3. Recycling hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

                  Trees will also be accepted every Saturday in January (Jan. 6, Jan. 13, Jan. 20, Jan. 27) between 7 a.m. and noon at several parks, including:

                  • C.M. Herndon Park, 511 Scott King Road
                    • Valley Springs Park, 3805 Valley Springs Road
                      • Rock Quarry Park, 701 Stadium Drive
                        • Merrick-Moore Park, 632 N. Hoover Road
                          • Southern Boundaries Park, 3400 Third Fork Road
                            • Bethesda Park, 1814 Stage Road
                              • Campus Hills (parking lot), 2000 S. Alston Ave.

                                Christmas recycling dos and don'ts

                                The day after Christmas is usually the busiest day of the year for recycling facilities, as people rush to get rid of trash from the holidays.

                                Not everything can be recycled, however.

                                Yes: Christmas trees, plain wrapping paper, plain holiday cards, cardboard boxes, strings of lights

                                No: Foil, metallic or glittery wrapping paper, tissue paper, ribbon, bows, plastic gift bags

                                In Wake County, corrugated cardboard, such as Amazon boxes, is fine to recycle in cardboard areas, but shiny gift boxes and cardstock need to go into the mixed recycling.

                                Bows and ribbon can get tangled up in the machines that process the recycling, have to be picked out of the recycling mix by workers. It's better to separate them to use again for another celebration.