In 2021, be kind to the environment – your neighborhood sanitation worker – by recycling that old evergreen that brought so much cheer to last year.
Beginning Monday, Jan. 4 and running through Jan. 16, the Streets Department Sanitation Division has six designated spots and have identified an additional 13 locations throughout the city for residents to recycle their tree.
The six city-owned convenience centers are open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. through Jan. 16 and are in the following locations:
On its website, the City of Philadelphia created an interactive map and a comprehensive list for the additional 13 locations where Christmas trees can be dropped off on Saturday, Jan. 9, and Saturday, Jan. 16 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Additionally, there are a host of community collection events that will also recycle your tree for a $5 donation, and two sites Circle Compost and South of South Neighborhood Association (SOSNA) does pickup for a $20 donation. SOSNA pickups are only on Saturday, Jan. 9, and are for residents in the immediate area. Residents can drop off at SOSNA’s 1601 Washington Avenue location on Sunday, Jan. 10. Times are from 9 a.m.-noon on both days.
| Organization | Drop-off location | Drop-off dates and times | Donation amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Philly Green | 16th and Wolf Streets | Sunday, Jan. 3, 12 p.m.–3 p.m. | $5.00 |
| South Philly Green | 17th and Manton Streets | Sunday, Jan. 3, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. | $5.00 |
| East Mt. Airy Neighbors | Historic Upsala Mansion, 6430 Germantown Ave. | Sunday, Jan. 3, 12:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. | $5.00 |
| Passyunk Square Civic Association | Columbus Square Park, corner of 13th and Wharton | Saturday, Jan. 9, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | $5.00 |
| South of South Neighborhood Association | 1601 Washington Ave. | Saturday, Jan. 9 and Sunday, Jan. 10, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. | $5.00 |
| Lower Moyamensing Civic Association | South Philadelphia High School, 2101 South Broad St. | Saturday, Jan. 9, 9 a.m.–12 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 10, 12 p.m.–3 p.m. | $5.00 |
| Philly Goat Project | The Farm at Awbury Arboretum, 6336 Ardleigh St. (at Duval) | Saturdays, Jan. 9 and Jan. 23, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. (rain dates: Sundays, Jan. 10 and Jan. 24) | $20.00 |
| Philly Goat Project and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation | Fairmount Park Organic Recycling Center, 3850 West Ford Rd. | Saturday, Jan. 30, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. (rain date: Saturday, Feb. 6) | $20.00 |
To drop off at any of these public or private locations, residents must remove all ornaments and make sure the tree is untied.
While trees that aren’t recycled will be picked up on trash days, cut trees add an additional burden on city landfills and the general stream of waste that occurs over the holiday season.
According to the Streets Department, taking the effort to recycle your tree instead reduces waste costs and find these trees used instead as backyard compost, winter mulch for perennials and more.
City programs are only for residents who receive City collected trash. For residents living in private communities, it’s suggested that arrangements are made for private disposal, however to not complicate matters, supporting the locations holding community events for a small fee may be the route to go to avoid the hassle of inquiring about private collection.
More information regarding tree recycling, holiday waste management and more can be found by visiting philadelphiastreets.com/holiday.
The latest green news you missed. Here comes the sun! Approximately 25% of municipal city…
Native plants are part of a collective solution to the expanding problem of stormwater mitigation…
Read the latest sustainability news. Earth Day was Monday is every day, and was celebrated…
Recycling in Philly is broken. Here’s how Mayor Parker’s administration could fix it. Recycling in…
We sat down with Adam Ortiz, EPA's Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator to chat about transparency and…
Philadelphians' skepticism about the City’s waste policies has led to an abysmal recycling rate. Here’s…