Reminder: don’t let your real Christmas tree go to waste – compost it!

Composting Christmas trees keeps waste out of landfills and reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s how Calgarians can compost real trees this year:

Use your green cart

After removing all lights, ornaments, tinsel and string, follow the same steps as you would for branches from your yard:

Cut your tree into pieces (no more than four feet long), put them into your green cart and make sure the lid can close.
If your green cart is full, tie extra branches together with a natural fibre string or place them in paper yard waste bags.
Set tied branches or yard waste bags at least one foot from the side of your green cart.

Trees that are not prepared this way will not be collected.

Use a drop-off location

A reminder to Calgarians that whole trees can be dropped off at one of 13 temporary drop-off locations across Calgary until January 31:

Auburn Bay Off-Leash Area - 52nd St and Auburn Bay Dr S.E.
Bottomlands Park - St. George's Drive N.E. (soccer field parking lot)
Bowness - 7937 43 Ave N.W. (next to community recycling depot)
Braeside Park - 256 Brookpark Drive S.W.
Confederation Park - 905 30 Ave N.W. (east parking lot)
Huntington Hills Athletic Park - 7920 4th St. at Huntstrom Dr. N.E.
IKEA - 8000 11 Street S.E. (northwest corner of parking lot behind store)
Marda Loop Communities Association - 3130 16th Street S.W.
North Glenmore Park - 6615 37 Street S.W. (Weaselhead parking lot)
Park 96 - 14660 Parkland Blvd S.E.
Pop Davies/ Ogden Athletic Park - Ogden Rd & Millican Rd SE
Prairie Winds Park - Westwinds Crescent N.E. and Castleridge Blvd N.E. (north parking lot)
Sacramento Parks Depot - 10400 Sacramento Drive S.W.

City landfill locations are also available for free drop-off until January 31.

Do not wrap, tie or bag your tree, and remember to remove tree stands and all lights, ornaments, tinsel and string.

For more information on the Christmas tree composting program and landfill hours, visit calgary.ca/christmastree.

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