London area: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays January 2022

London area 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!.

  • Barnet - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Break trees in half. Collection is usually early January through the end of January, on the regular collection day, placed next to your garden waste bin.
    Or drop off trees at the recycling centre on Summers Lane in North Finchley.
  • Bexley - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you're signed up to the garden waste service: Break trees in half or smaller and put fully inside your green waste bin. Collection is usually early January through the end of January, on the regular collection day, placed next to your garden waste bin.
    Or drop off trees at the Reuse and Recycling Centres at Thames Road in Crayford and Maidstone Road in Foots Cray.
  • Brent - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you are signed up to the garden waste service, you can cut your tree into pieces and place these in your green bin
    Drop off trees at any of the 19 drop-off points (including the Reuse and Recycling Centre on Abbey Road) between late December and mid-January. The Thames Road, Crayford and Maidstone Road, Foots Cray, sites are open 7.30am to 4pm.
    There are usually also two-hour pop-up collection points on the first 2 Saturdays after New Year's Day in January .
  • Bromley - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you're signed up to the garden waste service: Break trees in half or smaller and put fully inside your green waste bin.
    Drop off trees at temporary recycling centres on the second weekend in January. Or, if you have a waste disposal permit, take the tree to the Waldo Road or Churchfields Road recycling centres.
  • Camden - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you're signed up to the garden waste service: Break trees in half or smaller and put fully inside your green waste bin.
    Or drop off trees at the Christmas tree recycling points from 2 January to mid January. Find one on the Camden Christmas Tree Recycling Point Map..
  • City of London
    Drop off trees real trees at designated collection points to be composted. The don't post the locations or dates much in advance; you'll have to look on the London website.
  • Croydon - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you're signed up to the garden waste service: leave undecorated trees next to your regular bin from mid January for collection the next two weeks.
    Or drop off trees at Croydon's three reuse and recycling centres.
  • Ealing - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you're signed up to the garden waste service: leave the tree out for collection on the usual bin collection day during the first three weeks of January. Trees larger than six foot (or bigger than 20cm diameter) must be cut smaller
    Or drop off whole trees at pop-up collection points across the borough until the end of January.
  • Enfield - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Put the Christmas tree out for collection next to your food recycling bin on your usual food recycling day on the second week in January (trees must be cut smaller than than 6ft).
    Or drop off whole trees at the roughly 13 drop-off points until mid January. After mid-January, take your tree to Barrowell Green Recycling Centre.
  • Greenwich - kerbside collection,
    If you're signed up to the garden waste service: leave the tree out for collection on the weekly bin collection day.
  • Hackney - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Put the Christmas tree out for collection during the second week in January on your normal rubbish and recycling day
    Or drop off whole trees at take it to the Millfields Depot before 31 January.
  • Hammersmith & Fulham - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Put the Christmas tree out for collection during the first 2 weeks in January on your normal waste collection day.
    Or drop off whole trees at 10 designated drop-off points after Boxing Day to mid-January.
  • Haringey - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you live in a kerbside property, Haringey will collect your tree on the condition it's cut into pieces no more than three feet long. Chop it, then leave it out with your bin on normal collection day. Otherwise, take it to the Haringey Recycling Centre in Wood Green, to the kind folk at Doncaster Gardens Community Gardens (until 26 January), or one of the drop-off sites in parks (only available for the four weeks after Christmas to Jan 26).
    Albert Recreation Ground - Bidwell Gardens entrance (near staff depot)
    Bruce Castle Park - Staff depot near Lordship Lane entrance
    Downhills Park - Downhills Park Road/Keston Road entrance
    Finsbury Park - Endymion Road entrance (on left of entry)
    Priory Park - Barrington Road entrance (staff yard on right)
  • Harrow - Drop-off
    Drop off whole trees at the Harrow Recycling Centre in Wealdstone. Bring photo ID and a proof of address, like a utility bill.
  • Havering - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you're signed up to the garden waste service: Break trees in half or smaller and put fully inside your green waste bin.
    Or drop off whole trees at Gerpins Lane House and Recycling Centre
  • Hillingdon - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you're signed up to the garden waste service: garden waste collection. throughout January as part of weekly garden waste , just put the undecorated tree next to your garden waste
    Flat residents should leave trees out for collection from the second week in January, but must call the Hillingdon Contact Centre to let them know. .
    Or Drop-off - All decorations and pots should be removed, trees taller than 6 foot should be cut in half and artificial trees should be taken to one of our waste and recycling centres.
    Alternatively, you can arrange collection via our bulky waste collection service..
  • Hounslow - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Put trees rbsie, not on the regular rubbish collections day; it is usually the week before or week after. See the London Borough of Hounslow website for details.
    OrOr drop off whole trees at a number of collection points during January.
  • Islington - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Trees will be collected kerbside from houses on normal recycling collection day on the 3rd week in January,
    Or drop off whole trees at one of the nine drop-off points during the first 3 weeks in January
    OrOr drop off whole trees at the Hornsey Street recycling centre accepts trees anytime, all year round.
  • Kensington and Chelsea - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    The council will collect trees rbside on your usual collection day during the firs 2 full weeks in January
    OrOr drop off whole trees to one of the drop-off points.
  • Kingston - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Leave your Christmas tree next to your black wheelie bin next scheduled collection day (it will not be recycled), and Kingston Council will take it away.
    Or cut it up and put it in your garden waste bin (if you're a subscriber)
    Or drop off whole trees at the recycling centre off Villiers Road. pre-book your visit via our website
  • Lambeth - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Trees are collected kerbside throughout January on the usual collection day.
    Or drop off whole trees at Lambeth collection centres
  • Lewisham - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you're signed up to the garden waste service: Break trees in half; (maximum sizes 10cm thick and 50cm long).and put fully inside your green waste bin.
    Or drop off whole trees at 11 locations
  • Merton - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you're signed up to the garden waste collection service put your tree out for collection by mid-January (trees collected the week following). .
    Or drop off whole trees free at the recycling entre in Morden..
  • Newham - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Sign up on line (free), Break trees in half.and put fully inside your green waste bin. (Note, as of mid-December 2021, their website says "Due to current national shortage of HGV drivers garden waste collections are currently suspended")
    Or drop off whole trees at the Jenkins Lane recycling centre instead.
  • Redbridge - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Leave whole Christmas trees out the front during the second and third weeks in January. OR drop off whole trees at the Chigwell Road tip.
  • Richmond - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Break trees in half or smaller and put fully inside your green waste bin, usually on the second week in January on the tree collection day. You don't have to be a garden waste collection subscriber to have your tree collected.
    Or drop off whole trees at the seven drop-off points across the borough from until mid-January.
  • Southwark - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Leave the tree out outside by bins on normal waste collection days in January. Or drop off whole trees at the arboreal chum at the recycling centre on Devon Street with your proof of residence.
  • Sutton - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Leave the tree out kerbside during the last two weeks in January (collection starts on Monday in mid-January), t will not be recycled)
    Or drop off whole trees at the Kimpton Park Way recycling centre. (for recycling)
    Or Cut it up and put it in the garden waste bin (if you are a subscriber)
  • Tower Hamlets - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you're signed up to the garden waste service: leave the tree out as part of that after New Years until mid January. OR drop off whole trees at the communal collection points.
  • Waltham Forest - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    If you're signed up to the garden waste service: leave the tree out as part of that after New Years until mid January. Or Or drop off whole trees at the three waste and recycling centres in Leyton, Chingford or Walthamstow.
  • Wandsworth - kerbside collection, or drop-off
    Leave the tree out outside with your rubbish on the usual collection day during the first 2 weeks of January.
    Or drop off whole trees at the Smugglers Way reuse and recycling centre..
  • Westminster -Drop-off
    Drop off whole trees at one of the 26 Westminster drop-off points from the end of December to mid-January.