How to Have Your Christmas Tree Collected

The Streets Division provides two rounds of curbside collection for Christmas trees. 

Crews collect only trees.

Wreaths, boughs, and other evergreen decorations go into the trash.

The first round will begin on January 6, 2025.

The second and final round begins on January 21, 2025, following the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday.

Both collections are weather dependent as snowstorm response is a higher priority.

In order to have your tree picked up at the curb, you must follow the below rules and have them out during the correct times. If you place them out incorrectly, or at the wrong time, you may miss your opportunity to have them collected at the curb.

Tree collection rules and the schedule are available on the City of Madison winter website.

The Rules for Christmas Tree Collection

Failure to follow the below list of rules may result in your tree not being collected at the curb

• Remove the tree stand.
• Remove all tree decorations such as lights, tinsel, ornaments, tree toppers, and so on.
• Do not place your tree into any kind of bag.

When Should You Set Out the Trees & When Will the Streets Division Collect Your Tree

• Round One Information -  Collections Start on January 6, 2025

In order to have your tree collected during the first round, set your tree to on the terrace or right-of-way space near the public street by your home on or by 6:30am, January 6, 2025.

Trees set to the curb on or before 6:30am January 6, 2025 will likely be collected sometime between January 6 and January 17, 2024, depending on weather conditions and crew availability.

If you place your tree out for collection after January 6, your tree may not be collected until the second round.

• Round Two Information - Collection Start on January 21, 2025

In order to have your tree picked up during the second and final curbside collection opportunity, you must have your tree out for collection on or by 6:30 a.m. on January 21, 2025.

Trees set on the terrace or right-of-way space at this time will likely be collected sometime between January 21 and February 7, 2025, depending on weather conditions and crew availability.

If you set your tree out for collection after 6:30 a.m. January 21, 2024, you are likely to miss your curbside collection opportunity. 

Crews will not collect trees, or other brush, again until the start of the regular brush collection season in the spring of 2025.

Tree Placement

Trees must be placed on the terrace, or the road edge along the public street, and they must be accessible by collection crews.

Place your trees at least four feet away from obstructions like utility poles, fire hydrants, and other obstructions.

Streets Division crews cannot enter onto private property to collect items, including trees.

Snowstorms and Tree Collection

Streets Division crews will stop collecting trees in order to respond to a snowstorm. The same people who collect trees are the same people who drive the plows.  Snowy weather may result in pickup delays.

If your tree gets buried under snow and ice, you will need to dig it out for our crews to collect it.

Streets Division crews will not chisel out trees frozen in place. 

Wreaths, Garlands, Boughs, Other Evergreen Decorations

Do not place wreaths, evergreen rope, garlands, and boughs out for tree collection.

These belong in the trash.

They contain wires or metal that can damage wood chipping equipment.

Drop-off Sites

Madison residents may also bring their holiday trees to a Streets Division drop-off site.

The locations and hours of the sites change seasonally.

Check the drop-off sites website for more information about hours and locations of the sites.

What happens with collected trees?

The trees collected by the Streets Division are taken to the Streets Division’s brush processing center where it is ground into mulch.

Additional Information

Additional information regarding tree collection, and other winter-related city operations, can be found on the City of Madison’s Winter website, www.cityofmadison.com/winter.