Here’s where you can recycle your Christmas tree in the metro-east

Kelly Smits
·3 min read

Christmas has come and gone, and now you may be wondering how to dispose of your tree if you opted for a real one.

In the metro-east, recycled trees get new life in the form of mulch used throughout the community and lake fish habitat.

Here are the details for Christmas tree recycling in the metro-east. If you know of another recycling program or location, email ksmits@bnd.com to have it added to the list.

Clinton County

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Carlyle Lake is collecting used, real Christmas trees (all decorations removed, no artificial trees or wreaths) through Jan. 28, 2024 at the following locations:

  • Plant Land Garden Center & Lakeside Brewing Supplies - 12920 Old U.S. Highway 50, Breese, IL 62230

  • Keyesport Boat Ramp - located south of Keyesport, IL on the west side of Carlyle Lake

  • Little Prairie Nature Trail parking lot - located in the Spillway Recreation Area of Carlyle Lake

Each year, the recycled trees are submerged into the lake to promote breeding, resting and protection of native fish species.

For questions, call 618-594-2484.

St. Clair County

Belleville Parks and Recreation is collecting live Christmas trees (no bags, ornaments, lights, artificial trees or yard waste) from residents at the following locations through Jan. 31, 2024:

  • Laderman Park - 1105 Mascoutah Ave., Belleville, IL 62220

  • Bellevue Park - 401 Bellevue Park Dr., Belleville, IL 62226

  • North End Park - 1204 N. Douglas, Belleville, IL 62221

The recycled trees are brought to Carlyle Lake for use in the fish program.

For questions, call 618-233-1416.

Caseyville Township is collecting Christmas trees for recycling at the following locations until Jan. 12:

  • Township Administration Building - 10001 Bunkum Rd, Fairview Heights, IL 62208

  • Township Road District - 6990 Old Collinsville Rd., O’Fallon, IL 62269

Most trees are put in lakes for fish habitats and the remainder are chipped for mulch.

Freeburg is collecting Christmas trees near the old sewer plant off on Kessler Road until the end of January.

Lebanon is collecting trees at 533 N. Madison St.

O’Fallon provides curbside pick-up of Christmas trees through Waste Management until the end of January. Residents can leave their trees (cut into three-foot sections) on the curb on the day of their trash service.

Shiloh provides curbside pick-up of Christmas trees through Republic Services for the first two weeks of January. Residents can leave their trees (no decorations or lights, cut into four-foot sections) on the curb on the day of their trash service.

Smithton is collecting Christmas trees from residents at Smithon Park through Jan. 15.

St. Clair Township is collecting Christmas trees at the rear of its main building at 107 Service St, Swansea, IL 62226 until the end of January. It is not collecting trees at Centennial Park this year as it has in past years.

Swansea is collecting live, clean Christmas trees (no tree bags, tinsel, lights, etc. and no yard waste) at Melvin Price and Schranz memorial parks through Jan. 15.

Madison County

Madison County’s Building and Zoning Department is collecting Christmas trees (all lights and ornaments removed, no pine wreaths, roping or other landscape waste) through Jan. 14 at several locations in municipalities and townships throughout the county. Some offer curbside pick-up as well.

Click here for the full list of drop-off locations.

Recycled trees are chipped into mulch for use in public gardens and parks.

For questions, call 618-296-5237.

Monroe County

Columbia will be collecting trees on Saturday, Jan. 13 from 10 a.m. to noon at the parking lot of Bolm-Schuhkraft Memorial City Park next to Parkview Elementary School.

For questions, call 618-281-7144.