Places to recycle your Christmas tree in the Triangle

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- With Christmas 2023 now in the rearview mirror, it's time to start packing up the holiday decorations.

Families who have a live Christmas tree may be looking to recycle it. Below are details on how and when that recycling can happen:

Wake County

County parks like to use dried-out, undecorated Christmas trees to create mulch for parks and trails.

You can donate yours by bringing them to designated waste and recycling centers during business hours through Jan. 28.

Recycling centers open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Garner - 10505 Old Stage Road
• Apex - 6120 Old Smithfield Road
• Raleigh - 3600 Yates Mill Pond Road
• Wendell - 5051 Wendell Boulevard

Parks open from 8 a.m. to sunset

• Blue Jay Point - 3200 Pleasant Union Church Road
• Green Hills - 9300 Deponie Drive
• Harris Lake - 2112 County Park Drive
• Lake Crabtree - 1400 Aviation Parkway

Durham

Free tree disposal will not start in Durham until January.

Curbside tree collections will take place from Jan. 2 through Feb. 3. Current yard waste customers just need to place their trees at the curb on their normal pickup day.

Remember that all trees must be cut in half if they're taller than 6 feet. Also, remove all decorations from the tree and make sure it is not inside any type of bag.

If you'd instead like to drop off your tree, you can do so from Jan. 2 - Feb. 4 at 2115 E. Club Blvd. from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday - Friday and 7:30 a.m. to noon on Saturdays or at the following city park drop off locations from 7 a.m - 1 p.m. Jan. 7, 14, 21 or 28:

• C.M. Herndon Park, 511 Scott King Rd.
• Valley Springs Park, 3805 Valley Springs Rd.
• Rock Quarry Park, 701 Stadium Dr.
• Merrick-Moore Park, 632 N. Hoover Rd.
• Southern Boundaries Park, 3400 Third Fork Rd.
• Bethesda Park, 1814 Stage Rd.
• Campus Hills (parking lot), 2000 S Alston Ave.

Other Alternatives: How to recycle your Christmas tree

Fayetteville and Cumberland County

The Cumberland-Fayetteville Parks and Recreation will collect the trees from Fayetteville city residents in a special pickup for live Christmas trees beginning Monday, Jan. 9-13, as part of their 'Grinding of the Greens' annual event, according to its website. These are separate from regular curbside trash, yard waste and recyclables collection. The final pickup for Christmas trees is scheduled to be on January 21 with regular curbside collection days. You're asked to please remove all decorations from the tree.

People who live outside of the city limits or who miss the pickup may drop off trees at the Fayetteville Community Garden any day before January 21. The garden is located at the corner of Van Story and Mann Street just off Old Wilmington Road.

Fayetteville Public Works Commission and Duke Energy Progress volunteers will grind all collected, dropped-off trees into mulch.