2020 Christmas Tree Recycling

Each holiday season the US spends over $1 billion dollars on fresh-cut trees. They brighten our homes, infuse the air with merriment, and after a few days or weeks, out they go.

Enter Chicago's Christmas Tree Recycling program. The benefits of recycling/mulching trees are twofold: nutrients from the trees are preserved and given back to the soil, while tons of valuable organic material is diverted from landfills.

Participate from Jan. 4th - 18th, 2020

Chicago's 2020 Tree Recycling Program runs from January 4th through the 18th at dozens of parks across the City.

Only live/natural trees without flocking are accepted (no garland or wreaths). Because the trees are mulched, all tinsel, ornaments, lights, and stands must be removed. Plastic bags used for transport should also be removed before putting trees in the stalls.

The mulch that's created from the Christmas Tree Recycling program is used in local parks to protect and nourish plants and soil. Mulch will also be made available to Chicago residents, free of charge, starting Jan. 7th, at six park locations.

2020 Tree Recycling Locations

Twenty-five parks citywide are hosting Tree Recycling events this year. Trees can be dropped off anytime during normal business hours. Six locations (starred on the map) will also provide free mulch on a first-come, first-served basis, starting January 6th: Lincoln Park, Margate Park, Mt. Greenwood Park, North Park Village, Warren Park, and the Forestry Site.

*Star = mulch available (beginning Jan. 6)

Bessemer Park, 8930 S. Muskegon Ave.

Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell St.

Forestry Site*, 900 E. 103rd St.

Garfield Park, 100 N. Central Park Ave.

Grant Park, 900 S. Columbus Dr.

Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1369 N. Sacramento Ave.

Jackson Park, 6300 S. Cornell Ave.

Kennedy Park, 2427 W. 113th St.

Kelvyn Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.

Lake Meadows Park, 3117 S. Rhodes Ave.

Lincoln Park*, Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Ave. (East of Cannon Dr.)

Margate Park*, 4921 N. Marine Dr.

Marquette Park, 6700 S. Kedzie Ave.

McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Rd.

Mt. Greenwood Park*, 3721 W. 111th St.

North Park Village*, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.

Norwood Park, 5801 N. Natoma Ave.

Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.

Riis Park, 6201 W. Wrightwood Ave.

Rowan Park, 11546 S. Avenue L

Sheridan Park, 910 S. Aberdeen St.

Walsh Park, 1722 N. Ashland

Warren Park*, 6601 N. Western Ave.

Wentworth Park, 5701 S. Narragansett Ave.

West Chatham Park, 8223 S. Princeton

Onward and Upward

In 2019, over 17,000 Christmas trees were composted, just through the City's program. Those efforts diverted an estimated 620,000 pounds from landfills and gave our soil some love instead. Way to be, Chicago!

Help spread the word about the Tree recycling program and consider taking g a neighbor's tree along if you have space. Let's make this year the program's most successful year yet!

You might also enjoy:

Free Mulch. Why You Want It & Where to Get It - Where to score free mulch all year round.

Chicago Recycling Quiz - A two-minute crash course to becoming an excellent Chicago Recycler.

sources:

National Christmas Tree Association

City of Chicago

Chicago Park District

Updated: Dec 17, 2019

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