After the Holidays: Where to Recycle Your Tree in Grand Rapids

There's something extra special about having a live Christmas tree during the holidays. It makes your home smell wonderful and brings a little extra cheer that those fake ones just can't. But, what exactly do you do with those trees once the Christmas season is over, and you're ready to move on to 2025?

West Michigan offers several options depending on where you live. Just make sure you aren't dumping them illegally to avoid costly fines and upsetting your neighbors. Here are the different ways you can get rid of a live Christmas tree based on where you live:

 ⬇️Watch out for these Holiday scams in West Michigan! [Below] ⬇️

Grand Rapids

According to the city website, you can either have your tree picked up or drop it off at one of four drop off locations around the city:

• Riverside Park (north entrance) located at 3151 Monroe Ave NE
• Jaycee McKay Family Park located at 2531 Kalamazoo Ave SE
• Lincoln Park located at 231 Marion Ave NW - (west parking lot off Garfield St NW at Lincoln Ave NW)
• Huff Park located at 2286 Ball Ave NE

If you would like your tree to be picked up with your garbage, you just need to get a $3.75 City bulk yard waste tag (purple tag), and attach it to the tree in a visible place. After that, place it in your pickup area by 7:00 a.m. on your regular trash collection day.

East Grand Rapids

The Public Works Department will pick up your tree from Monday of the first full week of January through Friday of the second full week of January.

Grandville

The city of Grandville hasn't specified certain dates for Christmas tree disposal, but there is a tree drop off site located behind Department of Public Works building at 4085 White Street, Monday - Thursday 7:30am - 3:30pm, and Friday from 7:30am - 10:30am.

Cascade

Dumpsters are made available for the public behind Fire Station #2 (Buttrick and 30th Street) to deposit your Christmas trees following Christmas each year. This year, they will be available December 26th through January 10th

Kentwood

The Kentwood Department of Public Works also accepts string lights as well as trees for recycling.

A box for string lights will be located near the front doors of the DPW building at 5068 Breton Ave. SE from Wednesday, Dec. 18 until Friday, Jan. 31. A tree recycle site will be offered at the Kentwood Public Works facility at 5068 Breton Ave. SE from Thursday, Dec. 26 until Friday, Jan. 31

Holland

Holland has one drop off site in the city for those looking to say goodbye to their tree.
From December 26 through January 31 from dawn to dusk, you may bring your Christmas tree to Holland Charter Township's Quincy Park (4260 144th Avenue) to be recycled.

Rockford

You only have two chances to have your tree recycled in Rockford- Weather permitting, on Monday, January 10 & 24 crews will collect trees that are placed curbside for recycling.

Wyoming

The yard waste site in Wyoming accepts unbagged Christmas trees that are free of all ornaments, lights, and tinsel. Trees can be dropped off during the site's normal winter hours as well as Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024 and Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 from 8am to 5pm

All of the above locations request that you take all lights, decorations and tinsel off your tree before you dispose of it, so make sure you strip it down before you say goodbye to that Christmas cheer.