Where to Dispose of Your Christmas Tree for Free in Grand Rapids
While you're still enjoying your fresh-cut Christmas tree, soon enough you'll be looking for a place to dispose of it after the holidays.
Where Can you Drop Off Your Christmas Tree for Free in Grand Rapids?
The City offers free drop-off sites for Christmas trees December 30 through January 31 at the following locations:
- Riverside Park (north entrance), 2001 Monroe Ave. NE
- MacKay-Jaycees Park, 2531 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
- Lincoln Park, (Garfield Ave. NW entrance) 231 Marion Ave. NW
- Huff Park, (Ball St. parking lot) 2286 Ball Ave. NE
You can also drop off trees at the Compost and Yard Waste Site, which is open year round. Winter Hours, Mon-Fri 7:30a.m. to 4:30p.m:
- City Compost and Yard Waste Site, 2001 Butterworth Rd SW
Will the City of Grand Rapids Pick Up Christmas Trees?
The City of Grand Rapids also offers a fee-based curbside pickup program.
GR Public Works will actively collect trees from December 30 through January 31. After this time residents will need to call and request a collection.
The curbside pickup option requires residents attach a $2.50 City bulk yard waste tag (purple tag) to the Christmas tree and place it in their pickup area by 7 a.m. on the scheduled refuse collection day.
You can buy bulk yard waste tags at City Hall, 300 Monroe Ave. NW, in the customer service lobby. City Hall is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some local stores also carry yard waste tags also may have the tags in stock.
Things to note for curbside pickup:
- Christmas trees placed in the refuse pickup area must be properly tagged for collection.
- The tag must be visible at the time of collection. Make every effort to be sure the tree is able to be collected (not buried in the snow) and the tag is visible.
- All ornaments, other decorations, tinsel, nails, tree stands and any plastic bags on the tree need to be removed prior to collection.
- If not properly tagged, the property owner is subject to a notice of violation and possible fine.
- Lost or stolen tags are the responsibility of the resident to replace.
- Curbside collection may be delayed if there is a snow event.
Both curbside pick up and drop-off options are environmentally friendly, with trees recycled through chipping and returned naturally to the ground.