Recycle your tree for free: How to recycle your Christmas tree in Wake County, Durham and Fayetteville
With Christmas now come and gone, it's time to think about getting the living room back to normal and disposing of the holiday tree.
How to recycle your Christmas tree
Wake County
The Happy Trails Christmas Tree Recycling Program lets those in Wake County turn their trees into mulch to be used for parks and trails around the area. Last year, 4,828 trees were recycled and turned into 83 tons of mulch for the trails.
Between Dec. 26 and Jan. 28, you can drop off a tree for free at several sites, including several solid waste convenience centers such as:
- 10505 Old Stage Road, Garner
- 6120 Old Smithfield Road, Apex
- 3600 Yates Mill Pond Road, Raleigh
- 5051 Wendell Blvd./U.S. 64 Business, Wendell
You can also drop your tree off at several parks in Wake County from 8 a.m. until sunset seven days a week, including:
- Green Hills Park (9300 Deponie Drive, Raleigh)
- Blue Jay Point Park (3200 Pleasant Union Church Road, Raleigh)
- Harris Lake Park (2112 County Park Drive, New Hill)
- Lake Crabtree Park (1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville)
You have until Jan. 28 to drop off your tree. Just make sure to remove all decorations and ornaments. Drop-off is contact-less and sites are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. All sites will be closed on Jan. 1.
Durham County
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.
Fayetteville
The Cumberland-Fayetteville Parks and Recreation will collect the trees from Fayetteville city residents in a special tree pickup will take place during the week of Jan. 8-12. Pickups are separate from yard waste, trash or recycle pickups and city residents should put their trees out for curbside collection by the evening of Jan. 7.
