Some of us may not have even finished our holiday shopping, but municipalities have already made plans for helping dispose of (formerly) live Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands once the needles start to drop.
Here is a short round-up of tree disposal and recycling options in Baltimore and the surrounding counties.
BALTIMORE CITY
City residents can take advantage of Baltimore City Department of Public Works’ free Christmas tree mulching program, which begins Friday, Dec. 26, 2025 and runs through Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026.
“If you want your tree mulched, you have to bring it to our Sisson Street Recycling Center from 9 to 5, Monday through Saturday,” Jennifer Combs of DPW told Baltimore Fishbowl in a phone call. “Those trees will be mulched. And you can actually bring a container and bring your mulch back home.”
Residents can also put their trees out with their regular trash collection, but those trees will not be mulch, they will be disposed of with the rest of the trash.
Whether putting a tree out with curbside trash removal or bringing it to Sisson Street, Combs emphasized residents should make sure they have removed all tinsel, lights, and decorations from the tree.
BALTIMORE COUNTY
According to the Baltimore County Government website, the county collects Christmas trees for mulching for approximately two weeks in January. Dates vary by location and are not scheduled in advance. Trees will not necessarily be picked up on the same day as trash or recycling.
Residents should place their trees outside in the same location they would normally place their trash, recycling, and/or yard waste for pick-up, and do so during the first of the two weeks to ensure they will be collected. People who live in apartments or condos should follow their property manager’s rules for Christmas tree recycling.
Each Baltimore County household should have received its collection guide by now. On that guide, the first week of Christmas tree pick-up is outlined on their calendar in dotted lines.
Make sure trees are free of lights, decorations, tinsel, bags, and tree stands. Residents can also drop Christmas trees off at any of Baltimore County’s three drop-off locations.
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
Anne Arundel County residents can place their natural garland, wreaths, and Christmas trees at the curb on their regular collection day before 6 a.m. They will be chipped into mulch.
The Anne Arundel County website’s Yard Waste page states that residents should remove the tree stand, tree bags, lights, metal ornament hangers, and all decorations from the tree before placing it at the curb. If the tree is “very tall,” they request residents cut the trees in half so it will fit into the trucks more easily.
Residents can also bring their trees, garland, and wreaths to any of the county’s Recycling Centers.
HOWARD COUNTY
Dec. 26, 2025–Jan. 17, 2026 is “Merry Mulch” season in Howard County, during which the Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Environmental Services offers a variety of recycling options for their Christmas trees and decorations.
“I encourage residents to reduce their carbon footprint by keeping trees out of the landfill this holiday season,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “By spring, this organic material will be re-purposed and ready to use as compost and mulch. By simply recycling your holiday tree, you can create a cleaner and more sustainable environment for all.”
During that approximately three-week period, trees can be recycled seven days per week during regular business hours at the drop-off sites listed below (with the exception of the Alpha Ridge Landfill, which is only open Monday–Saturday). There is also an online interactive map showing this year’s Merry Mulch locations.
- Clarksville: Kendall Hardware, 12260 Clarksville Pike (Route 108)
- Columbia: Cedar Lane Park, 5081 Cedar Lane
- Elkridge: Rockburn Branch Park – East, 5400 Landing Road
- Ellicott City: Old Circuit Court parking lot on upper Court House Drive (just past Ellicott Mills Drive, on the right)
- Highland: Schooley Mill Park, 12975 Hall Shop Road
- Marriottsville: Alpha Ridge Landfill Wood Waste Area, 2350 Marriottsville Road (open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Savage: Savage Park, 8400 Fair Street
- Woodbine: Western Regional Park, 14800 Carrs Mill Road
Residents can also set their trees out for collection with curbside yard waste on their yard trim day through Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. Remove all decorations, including tinsel, garland, ornaments, lights, tree stands, plastic bags, etc. Additionally, please cut trees into less than four-foot lengths and tie them. They should not be bagged, and each bundle should weigh less than 40 pounds.
If using curbside collection, set trees out the evening before, as pick-up begins at 6 a.m. on yard trim collection day.
Artificial holiday trees and wreaths with metal components can be recycled year-round in the scrap metal area at the Alpha Ridge Landfill’s Residents’ Convenience Center.
