Christmas Tree Collection

How to Have Your Christmas Tree Collected

The invasive species found on trees sold in Wisconsin will not affect curbside collection procedures

The Streets Division provides two rounds of curbside collection for Christmas trees.  The first round will begin on January 2, 2020 with the second and final round beginning on January 21.

Wreaths, evergreen rope, garlands, and boughs will not be collected alongside Christmas trees. These items contain wires or metal that can damage wood chipping equipment.  These should be placed into the refuse for disposal.

Residents who wish to have their trees collected at the curb should follow the below guidelines in order to guarantee their trees are picked up.

The Rules for Christmas Tree Collection

Failure to follow the below list of rules may result in the tree not being collected.

Remove all tree stands regardless if they are metal or wood.
Remove all tree decorations such as lights, ornaments, or other metal objects.
Remove any tree bags, and any other foreign object.

The above listed items may damage the wood chipping equipment used to process collected trees, so they must be removed.

Where to Place Your Tree for Collection

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

When to Place Your Tree for Collection

The Streets Division performs two rounds of Christmas tree collection.

Round One Information -  January 2, 2020

Residents who wish to have their tree picked up during the first round should have their tree to the curb by 7:00am on January 2. 

Trees set to the curb at this time will likely be collected prior to January 17, 2020, depending on weather conditions and crew availability.

If you place the trees to the curb after January 2, the tree may not be collected until the second round.

Round Two Information - January 21, 2020

Residents who wish to have their tree collected at the curb and did not take advantage of the first round must have their tree to the curb by 7:00 a.m. on January 21.

Trees set to the curb before 7:00 a.m. on January 21 will likely be collected prior to February 7, 2020 depending on weather conditions and crew availability.

Trees set to the curb after 7:00 a.m. January 21 may not be picked up until the start of the regular brush collection services that will begin in the spring.

What Happens if It Snows

The Streets Division is the primary agency responsible for servicing city streets during snow and ice events.  If conditions require, crews will be diverted from tree collection to assist with maintaining the roads. This may result in pickup delays.

If the trees become buried with snow and ice while awaiting collection at the curb, residents are asked to dig out the trees so they are accessible to the crews.

Drop-off Sites

Madison residents may also bring their Christmas trees to one of the Streets Division drop-off sites.  The sites are located at 1501 W. Badger Rd. on the southwest side and at 4602 Sycamore Ave. on the east side.  The drop-off sites are open from 7:30am to 3:00pm Monday to Friday.

What about the Invasive Species?

The Wisconsin Department of Trade, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) issued a notice about an invasive species found in some holiday greenery this season, including Christmas trees.

This invasive species will not affect how the Streets Division collects Christmas trees from the curb or the drop-off sites. The invasive species does not alter the steps residents should follow to have their tree picked up, either.

To prevent further spread of the invasive, DATCP recommends that residents do not compost infested trees or place infested trees in forested areas.

More information about this invasive species (the elongate hemlock scale) can be found on the DATCP release or by contacting the Department of Trade, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection.

Additional Information on Tree Collection

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]www.cityofmadison.com/winter.