Here's how to dispose of your Christmas tree in Austin and recycle your holiday trash

Roberto Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman
·3 min read

What's the best way to bid fir-well to that natural Christmas tree and recycle all that paper wrapping and packaging from opened gifts? We've got an answer for that and to a few other common questions about holiday recycling.

What can I do with my Christmas tree?

Austin homeowners who get their trash picked up by the city at the curb can recycle their natural Christmas trees there, too — but all decorations and stands must be removed.

Austin Resource Recovery says you can put out your tree by 5:30 a.m. on your regular composting collection day. Trees taller than 6 feet need to be cut in half, and don't put the tree in a plastic bag.

According to the city, this kind of recycling keeps nearly 20,000 Christmas trees out of area landfills every year and contributes to Austin's goal of reaching zero waste by 2040.

What if I'm not a curbside trash customer?

The city says all residents can take their trees to the recycling drop-off site in Zilker Park — but trees with artificial snow are not accepted, and trees must not have decorations or stands still on them.

You can drop trees off at the Zilker Park Polo Fields between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, or the following week on Jan. 7 and Jan. 8.

But wait, there's more! Mulch collected from the trees will be available for free on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 9 a.m. Jan. 12 — weather permitting —but be sure to bring your own containers.

What if I don't live in Austin?

These locations are accepting trees for recycling free of charge (but a contamination fee will be added for any trees with tags, decorations or plastic):

What can I do with my used wrapping paper?

Wrapping paper and cardboard can go into your blue single-stream recycling cart. But wrapping paper with glitter or foil cannot be recycled and should go in the trash, Austin Resource Recovery says.

How do I get rid of packaging materials?

Styrofoam can be dropped off at Austin's Recycle & Reuse Drop-Off Center at 2514 Business Center Drive in Southeast Austin. For foam packing peanuts, seal them in a bag before placing them in the trash. Many postal stores will accept packing peanuts, too.

The Recycle & Reuse Drop-Off Center is open by appointment only. Visit austintexas.gov/dropoff to schedule an appointment.

More:Flying home or for vacation? What qualifies as a carry-on item might surprise you

What else will the drop-off center take?

Making an appointment for the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center is a great option if you want to recycle old electronics and batteries, especially if you got new gadgets for Christmas. Visit Austin Resource Recovery's "What Do I Do With" website at austintexas.gov/what-do-i-do. The interactive site lets you type in a household item and find out which city service can help you dispose of it.

When will trash be picked up?

When Austin's trash, recycling and yard trimmings/compost collection dates fall on New Year's Day, trash pickup slides forward one day. But because the holiday falls on a Sunday this year, your collection day will not slide.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: How to dispose of Christmas trees in Austin and recycle holiday trash