December 18 E-News

City Staff Support Salvation Army Angel Tree Program

Recently, staff from the City of Des Plaines participated in the annual Salvation Army Angel Tree Program, helping bring new clothing and toys to local children in need. Employees fulfilled gift wishes for 55 children, with the Police and Fire Departments delivering the gifts directly to the Salvation Army Des Plaines Corps Community Center.

We value our ongoing partnership with the Salvation Army and thank them for supporting local families through this program!

After the Holidays: Tree & Lights Recycling

in Des Plaines

Staff from City's Public Works and Engineering Department will be collecting holiday trees for recycling during the first full week of January, from Monday, January 5, through Friday, January 9, 2026 (weather permitting). Participating residents are asked to remove any decorative materials and place the bare trees at their curb before 7 a.m. on January 5.

If you miss this collection and are an LRS customer, trees will still be picked up by the refuse service through Friday, January 16, 2026 (also weather permitting). After that, bare holiday trees will need to be held until landscape waste collection resumes in April.

Throughout January and February, Des Plaines residents can also safely recycle their holiday lights through weekly collections at the City's Public Works facility. Lights can be dropped off on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1111 Joseph J. Schwab (Campground) Rd. We accept C7 and C9 lights, rope lights, mini-lights, LED lights, and extension cords. Please note that strands still attached to wreaths, garland, or other decorations will not be accepted.

Take the City-Sponsored Events Survey

We want to hear from you about the City events you've attended this year. Please take a short survey to share your thoughts on City-sponsored activities like the Holiday Tree Lighting, Winter Fair, and Harvest Hoot. Your input helps the Media Services team understand what's working well and where improvements can be made, guiding future planning to make our events even more enjoyable for the community. Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your thoughts!