Austin's Christmas Tree Recycling Program: Drop-offs and Curbside Collection

For nearly four decades, the city of Austin has been giving Christmas trees a post-holiday glow-up — turning yesterday’s centerpiece into tomorrow’s mulch.

Residents can deck the parks, not the halls, by dropping off all-natural trees, garlands and wreaths at Zilker Park between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Dec. 28 and Jan. 3, where the once-festive evergreens will be chipped into mulch instead of heading to the landfill.

"Trees are a renewable resource and it’s important to keep them out of landfills so they can continue providing nutrients to the Earth," Austin Resource Recovery spokesperson Paul Bestgen said in a statement. "By recycling the trees, we can also provide the community with free mulch to keep Austin green."

Bestgen said the city estimates about 2,000 trees find their second act during Zilker Park drop-off events each year.

The mulch will be free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis on Jan. 8 starting at 9 a.m.

Residents can also have their trees collected through curbside recycling starting Dec. 26. Trees taller than six feet must be cut in half, and all non-compostable items (including ornaments, tinsel, stands and wire frames for wreaths and garlands) must be removed. The city will not accept trees sprayed with artificial snow or trees placed in bags.

Trees collected through curbside recycling will be hauled with other compostables to city vendors Organics by Gosh and Texas Disposal Systems, where the holiday leftovers will be composted.