Scotland: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays January 2022
Scotland councils and boroughs
Most areas have either :
- Kerbside collection (in some cases, cut the tree and put in the green waste bin - Some allow the whole Christmas tree to be placed by
the kerb), or
- Drop-off locations or
- Both
In ALL cases, remove all ornaments, tinsel, decorations, lights, stands, pots, planters, netting, etc.
Some household waste and recycling collections have been slightly delayed as a result of the national shortage of HGV drivers, which is affecting
haulage sectors throughout the UK. Most residents will not see any change from their normal waste collections dates as over 98% of all collections
are unaffected, but...
Always follow the link (click on the council or borough name) to get the most current information. There are often last
minute changes; do NOT assume nothing has changed since we last revised this page!.
- Aberdeen city -
kerbside collection
Trees are collected along brown rubbish bins, preferably cut up and placed inside. Collections scheduled between
the second and third week in January. For residents
using communal bins, leave trees next to bins between 3 of January and mid-January for collection.
- Aberdeenshire - drop-off at a recycling centre
Take to a local recycling area to be
composted along with garden waste.
- Angus -
kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
Christmas trees can be cut up and placed in the garden waste bin, or recycled in the garden waste skip at a recycling centre.
Or the council will collect the tree for a special collection fee of £25.60.
- Argyll and Bute - drop-off at a recycling centre
Trees to be taken to a recycling centres for
composting.
- Clackmannanshire - drop-off at a recycling centre
Christmas trees to be disposed of
alongside the garden waste at the Forthbank recycling centre in Alloa.
- Dumfries and Galloway - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
Tree lengths up to 1m can be put out for collection
next to your waste bin or refuse sacks until 18 January, or taken to a recycling centre.
- Dundee -
drop-off at a recycling centre
The city's two recycling centres on Piper Street and Wright Avenue will compost the trees.
- East Ayrshire -
kerbside collection
Trees will be collected in the brown bin collections. Householders should cut them down to fit in the bin. Also,
a separate collection of
trees will take place in mid-January. All will be sent for composting.
- East Dunbartonshire - kerbside collection, or drop-off
at a recycling centre
Skips are
arranged in Kirkintilloch, Bishopbriggs and Bearsden for locals to put their Christmas trees in. There are also collections for residents
who cannot take their tree to the centre.
- East Lothian -
kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
You can take your tree to a recycling centre for composting, or put it beside the brown bin for
collection on your garden waste collection
day.
- East Renfrewshire -
kerbside collection
Christmas trees will be collected in the week beginning the second week in January. They can also be left with your garden waste bin on
your regular collection day to
be recycled.
- Edinburgh - If you have signed up to receive
garden waste collections, you should put your tree on the kerbside on collection day. If you have not signed up for garden waste
collections, or use communal rubbish and recycling facilities, then you should put your tree next to your communal bin on the tree
collection day for your street.
- Falkirk- kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
Take to recycling centres or a brown bin
collection can be arranged for free via Falkirk Council.
-
Fife - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
Either put the Christmas tree in your brown bin, or take it to a recycling centre.
Binned trees must be cut up so the lid can be closed.
- Glasgow - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
Real Christmas trees can be put in the
brown bin for kerbside collection for those who have one. Again, the tree should be cut up so the lid can close. Also, Take to any of the council recycling centres, or taken to one of the three recycling points in Kelvingrove,
Pollok or Alexandra Park during the first 2 weeks after New Years in January. The trees are
chipped and shredded on site for use within the parks. Chippings will be available for the public to take free of charge from Pollok
Park.
- Highland - drop-off at a recycling centre
Take
Christmas trees to the local recycling centres (they are then composted)
- Inverclyde - drop-off at a recycling centre
Take to one of the garden waste containers at the recycling depots in Greenock and Gourock.
- Midlothian -
kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
If you cannot take your tree to your nearest recycling centre, the council will arrange a bulky
collection for a charge of £25.
- Moray - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
You can recycle your tree by putting it out
next to your brown bin, or taking it to your nearest recycling centre. All Christmas trees collected in Moray are sent to Keenan
Recycling in Turriff to be turned into compost.
- North Ayrshire -
Christmas trees will be collected from the kerbside in January. You can check the collection date for your address here.
- North Lanarkshire - A special collection of
your tree can be arranged via the council free by phoning 01698 403110. The trees are sent to a contractor to be composted.
-
Orkney Islands - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
Orkney Islands Council will do a Christmas tree collection in February - all trees collected this way
will be added to garden waste piles. Alternatively, they can be taken to local recycling centres.
- Perth and Kinross - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
You can chop up your tree and put it in your
brown-lidded bin if you have a garden waste permit, or take it to a local recycling centre.
- Renfrewshire - drop-off at a recycling centre
Real Christmas trees should be
taken to your nearest recycling site and put in the green waste skips.
- Scottish Borders -
drop-off at a recycling centre
Take your tree to any recycling centre for composting.
- Shetland Islands - Christmas trees that are
deposited at the Council's recycling centre are sent to the local Energy Recovery
Plant. This is more cost effective than shipping the trees to the Scottish mainland - and produces hot water for the Lerwick
district heating scheme during one of the coldest periods of the year.
- South Ayrshire - kerbside collection, or drop-off
at a recycling centre
Cut up the tree and put it in your brown bin. You can arrange a free winter brown bin collection. You can also contact the council on 0300 123 0900 to arrange a collection.
- South Lanarkshire -
kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
Cut your Christmas tree to fit in your waste bin with the lid closed for kerbside
collection.
You can also request a free green waste collection, or take your tree to any of the recycling centres.
- Stirling - drop-off at a recycling centre
Take Christmas trees to any of
the recycling centres in the area.
- West Dunbartonshire - kerbside collection, or drop-off
at a recycling centre
Real trees can be composted after the Christmas period through either the brown waste bin kerbside collection system or by taking the tree
to one of the area's recycling centres at Renton or Old Kilpatrick.
- Western Isles -
drop-off at a recycling centre
- West Lothian - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
Cut up real Christmas trees and place them
in or beside your brown bins at the kerbside on the next scheduled collection day. Trees can also be taken to any of the area's five
household waste recycling centres to be taken to a composting facility.
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