Chicago Department of Streets & Sanitation

01/11/2025 | Press release | Archived content

Mayor Brandon Johnson, Department of Streets and Sanitation and Chicago Park District Host Annual Holiday Tree Recycling from January 11-25 at 27 Locations Citywide

Mayor Brandon Johnson, Department of Streets and Sanitation and Chicago Park District Host Annual Holiday Tree Recycling from January 11-25 at 27 Locations Citywide

January 11, 2025

Recycling holiday trees divert materials from landfills, reduces greenhouse gas emissions

CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) and the Chicago Park District, today announced its annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program runs from January 11-25, 2025, at 27 locations citywide.

"For over thirty years, the City has been hosting holiday tree recycling for Chicago residents," said DSS Commissioner Cole Stallard. "The annual program is just one of the many sustainability programs we are proud to offer Chicago residents, so we can all work together to fight the effects of climate change."

Chicago's holiday tree recycling program helps the City divert organic material from the waste stream, converting it to sustainable resources and ultimately helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Last year, 24,536 trees were mulched through the program, and 389,000 trees in the last 35 years.

"We are proud to partner with the Department of Streets and Sanitation to host this year's Holiday Tree Recycling Program," said Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño. "As Chicago families take down their trees and decorations, we encourage everyone to consider doing something great for the environment by dropping off their trees to one of the designated park locations. Holiday trees will be converted to free mulch that has many benefits for parks as well as residential landscapes including improving soil structure, moisture retention and minimizing weeds that contribute to the overall health and beauty of our lawns and gardens."

Live and natural holiday trees can be dropped off inside the tree recycling corrals at the designated locations. All ornaments, lights, tinsel, and tree stands must be removed before the tree is dropped off, and plastic bags used for transport should also be removed prior to placing the trees in the corrals.

"The Holiday Tree Recycling Program is a great example of how simple actions from every Chicagoan can help move the needle on carbon emissions reduction and make our city more livable for all," said Angela Tovar, Chicago's Chief Sustainability Officer and Department of Environment (DOE) Commissioner. "We are pleased to support DSS' continued efforts to expand composting in the city and bring the benefits directly back to Chicagoans."

This year, 27 citywide drop-off locations are available for residents, with six locations offering free mulch beginning Monday, January 13, denoted by asterisks.

  • Bessemer Park, 8930 S. Muskegon Avenue
  • Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell Street
  • Forestry Site, 900 E. 103rd Street*
  • Garfield Park, 100 N. Central Park Avenue
  • Grant Park, 900 S. Columbus Drive
  • Hiawatha Park, 8028 W. Forest Preserve Drive
  • Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1301 N. Humboldt Drive
  • Jackson Park, 6300 S. Cornell Avenue
  • Kelvyn Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood Avenue
  • Kennedy Park, 2427 W. 113th Street
  • Lake Meadows Park, 3117 S. Rhodes Avenue
  • Lincoln Park, Cannon Drive at Fullerton Avenue (East Side of Cannon Drive)*
  • Mahalia Jackson Park, 8385 S. Birkhoff Avenue
  • Margate Park, 4921 N. Marine Drive*
  • Marquette Park, 6700 S. Kedzie Avenue
  • McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Road
  • Mount Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th Street*
  • North Park Village, 5801 N. Pulaski Road*
  • Norwood Park (Service Yard), 5800 N. Avondale Avenue
  • Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Avenue
  • Riis Park, 6201 W. Wrightwood Avenue
  • Rowan Park, 11546 South Avenue L
  • Sheridan Park, 910 S. Aberdeen Street
  • Walsh Park, 1722 N. Ashland Avenue
  • Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Avenue*
  • Wentworth Park, 5701 S. Narragansett Avenue
  • West Chatham Park, 8223 S. Princeton Avenue

For more information on the City's ongoing recycling efforts, visit chicagorecycles.org.

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