Advice has been issued by various local authorities on how people can dispose of real trees now that Christmas has wrapped up.

Although information varies depending on each area, there are several recommended ways to do this, including kerbside collection, using brown garden waste bins, or taking it to a recycling centre.

How to dispose of real Christmas trees depending on council area (general guidance)

Glasgow

In Glasgow, there are various options available for disposing of real Christmas trees responsibly.

Households with a brown bin can leave trees – with no decorations – kerbside for collection on their scheduled bin day.

The brown bin must display a valid garden waste permit for the period October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.

Trees can also be taken to any of the council’s household waste recycling centres.

Meanwhile, real Christmas trees can be dropped off at designated park locations from January 3 until January 31, 2026. These include: Pollok Country Park, Alexandra Park, Kelvingrove Park, and Mansfield Park.

All trees collected through brown bin collections or taken to recycling centres and park drop-off points will be sent for composting.

North Lanarkshire

Real Christmas trees with all decorations removed can be disposed of free of charge at recycling centres.

There are six recycling centres in the local authority, including Airdrie, Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Netherton, and Shotts.

Residents are asked not to put trees out with their wheelie bins as these will not be uplifted.

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South Lanarkshire

Real Christmas trees can be recycled in various ways throughout the local authority.

The council states that it will collect real Christmas trees put beside burgundy food and garden waste bins on their normal collection days between Monday, January 5, and Friday, January 16, 2026.

Trees being uplifted must be cut into 5ft sections and tied together.  

Those who do not have a burgundy bin are asked to request a free garden waste uplift for their real Christmas trees.

Uplifts can be booked online on South Lanarkshire Council’s website from Monday, December 22, until 2.30pm on Wednesday, December 31.

Trees will then be uplifted between Monday, January 5 and Friday, January 9.

Trees can also be taken to one of the local authority’s six household waste recycling centres in Cambuslang/Rutherglen, Carluke, East Kilbride, Hamilton/Blantyre, Larkhall, and Strathaven.

East Dunbartonshire

From Monday, January 5, residents can dispose of their real Christmas trees in a skip at various locations.

These include the William Patrick Library car park in Kirkintilloch, Mavis Valley Recycling Centre in Bishopbriggs, and Milngavie Community Education Centre in Milngavie.

West Dunbartonshire

Whilst there is no specific guidance on disposing of real Christmas trees on the council’s website, residents were previously advised that they could take these to their local recycling centre, either in Renton or Old Kilpatrick.

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Renfrewshire

Real Christmas trees can be recycled from Friday, January 2, to Thursday, January 8, 2026, at various locations.

These include Barshaw Park in Paisley, Barwood Park in Erskine, Lochwinnoch Public Park, and Thomas Shanks Park in Johnstone.

Trees can also be disposed of at the council’s household recycling centres in Erskine, Johnstone, Linwood, Paisley, and Renfrew.

East Renfrewshire

Residents who have bought a garden waste permit will have their Christmas tree collected on their normal brown bin collection day from the week beginning January 5.

Trees must be broken up and placed in the brown bin for pickup. The local authority notes that any trees not placed in the brown bin will not be collected.

Those who do not have a garden waste permit are urged to organise and pay for a one-off uplift.

The charge is a one-off payment of £15.65 and is available for booking until Friday, January 9.

Alternatively, the council states that it will be placing wood chipping facilities at Cowan Park and Roukenglen Park from the week beginning January 5.

Residents can drop off their Christmas tree at one of these sites, and an East Renfrewshire operative will dispose of it.