Creative Ways to Recycle Your Christmas Tree This Holiday Season

This month, until 31 January, if you place your Christmas tree out on your regular collection day, it will be retrieved at no charge. 

Residents are reminded to set their trees out on their designated collection day, not beforehand, and to ensure trees are positioned correctly to avoid obstructing pavements, which could hinder movement for others, particularly individuals with disabilities or those using pushchairs. 

Setting your tree out for recycling

Here is a reminder of where to place your tree for recycling according to your residence: 

• Properties with front yards: place your tree for collection beside your waste and recycling bags, not in the street.
• Properties without front yards: set your tree just outside your front door on the pavement, ensuring not to obstruct pedestrian pathways.
• Apartment buildings: position your tree near your waste and recycling bin area, but ensure access to the bins is not blocked.
• Remove any ornaments or pots as the trees are sent for composting.

Report a missed collection if your tree was overlooked on collection day. Please keep in mind it will be collected by a different vehicle, so wait until after 7pm on the collection day to report a missed collection online if it is still uncollected. Alternatively, you can also reach out to us the next working day at 020 8871 8558. 

You should refrain from reporting your tree as abandoned or missed if you are simply waiting for your regular collection day. 

If you notice a tree that has been discarded and is not scheduled to be collected as part of the free service, please report this as an abandoned tree. 

Cllr Judi Gasser, Cabinet Member for Environment, remarked: 

“We take pride in being among the few councils that provide complimentary Christmas tree collections as part of our recycling initiative, and we have doubled the number of drop-off points compared to last year. 

“It’s vital that everyone adheres to the guidelines we have established to ensure trees are recycled properly and do not create any clutter throughout the borough. 

“Thank you to all who have utilized this service already. If you haven’t yet, it’s available until 31 January.” 

Drop-off points

You may also bring your Christmas tree to one of six complimentary drop-off points until 31 January, if that is more convenient: 

• Acanthus Road, Battersea, parking areas at the end of the road adjacent to Grayshott playground, SW11 5TY
• Battersea Park, Albert Bridge Car Park, Albert Bridge Road, SW11 4NU
• Battersea Park, Chelsea Gate Car Park, Carriage Drive North, SW11 4NJ
• Nuffield Health Car Park, Burr Road, Wandsworth, SW18 4SQ
• Tooting Common, Dr Johnson Car Park, SW17 8JU
• Tooting Leisure Centre Car Park, Greaves Place, SW17 0NE

Alternatively, you can deliver it to the Smugglers Way reuse and recycling centre. Please remember that you must schedule a slot to access Smugglers Way. 

Discover more about the Christmas tree recycling service.