From neighborhood parks to hungry goats, there are plenty of ways your Christmas tree can help your fellow Philadelphians.
Get a compelling long read and must-have lifestyle tips in your inbox every Sunday morning — great with coffee!
Instead of throwing out your Christmas tree, donate it to Philly Goat Project, whose goats will merrily chow down on the branches. / Photograph by Jerome Eno.
As the last of the holiday lights come down and your Christmas tree starts shedding needles like confetti, it’s time to think about what comes next. Instead of dragging it to the curb, why not go the sustainable, green, civic-minded route and recycle it?
Neighborhoods use wood chips for parks and public spaces; the city sends trees off for composting; and goats make snacks of your once-festive evergreen — so there are plenty of ways your Christmas tree can help your fellow Philadelphians.
Here’s how — and where — to recycle your tree in Philly.
When: January 10th and 24th (Awbury Arboretum) and January 17th (Laurel Hill West)
Where: The Farm at Awbury Arboretum (6336 Ardleigh Street) and Laurel Hill West Cemetery (215 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd)
Cost: $20 donation per tree via cash, Venmo, CashApp, and PayPal
This is more than just an opportunity to dispose of your Christmas tree in an eco-friendly way — it is a Philadelphia treasure of an event. Here’s how it works: You bring your tree and then watch the goats of Philly Goat Project eat it! Well, maybe not your tree, specifically — this is a very popular event, and the goats can only eat so much in one sitting! But rest assured, your Christmas trees will be snacks for the goats, and whatever’s left over will be turned into wood chips for the trails in city parks and community gardens.
But wait, there’s more. So much more. Listen, I don’t even have a Christmas tree and I bring my family to this event at Awbury every year. Why? It’s goats eating Christmas trees! And you can hang out with said goats! And take pictures with them! And then you can explore the Farm at Awbury, warm up by the fire pit with free s’mores and hot cocoa, and did I mention the goats? Last year, a Gritty impersonator showed up and taught our new puppy what it means to be a Philadelphian. It was a delight.
If you don’t have time to hang out with the goats, but still want to give them your trees, there’s also express curbside drop-off at the arboretum’s at 6336 Ardleigh Street entrance.
PGP asks for a $20 donation per tree (tax receipts are available upon request), which helps pay for the nonprofit’s free year-round programming, including goat walks, kids’ library visits, animal-assisted therapy, and more.
A Philly Goat Project goat eating a Christmas tree! / Photograpy by Jen Bagley
Passyunk Square Civic Association
When: January 10th, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Columbus Square Park, 1200 Wharton Street
Cost: $5 donation per tree, cash or Venmo
Turn your Christmas trees into mulch for local parks instead of adding to the landfills. PSCA asks for a $5 donation per tree to offset the cost of chipping them into mulch.
When: January 11th, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Julian Abele Park, 923 South 22nd Street
Cost: $20 suggested donation
Make sure your tree is completely free of ornaments, tinsel, and lights, and drop it off at Julian Abele Park. You can also pick up free wood chips for your garden or tree pits while you’re at it! A suggested donation of $20 supports the South of South Neighborhood Association’s greening efforts.
Fishtown Neighbors Association
When: January 10th, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Former Greensgrow site (2501 East Cumberland Street)
Cost: $5 suggested donation
The Fishtown Neighbors Association and the New Kensington Community Development Corporation are teaming up with Bennett Compost to recycle your trees and turn them into mulch to be used in local parks and green spaces.
Friends of Eastern State Penitentiary Park
When: January 3rd, 4th, 10th, and 11th from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Corinthian Gardens, entrance at Corinthian and Fairmount avenues
Cost: $10 donation
Drop off your Christmas tree at Corinthian Gardens and FESPP will chip it into mulch for park use. Make sure your tree is completely free of ornaments, tinsel, and lights.
Northern Liberties Neighbors Association
When: Now through January 19th
Where: Liberty Lands Park, 913 North 3rd Street
Cost: $10 suggested donation per tree
The NLNA uses donated Christmas trees to make wood chips for Orianna Dog Park, so you’ll be helping your local pups with this one! Make sure trees are completely free of ornaments, tinsel, and lights, and drop them off in the park by the fire hydrant. You can also volunteer for the January 19th tree chipping, if you are so inclined.
Dropping off a Christmas tree to be recycled at West Laurel Hill / Photograph by Veracity Studios
When: January 10th, 10 a.m.-noon (Clark Park) and 1-3 p.m. (Malcolm X Park)
Where: Clark Park (4300 Baltimore Avenue) and Malcolm X Park (5100 Pine Street)
Cost: $5–$20 suggested donation per tree
Hand your tree off to a UC Green volunteer, and it will be mulched and used to nourish trees in University City parks.
Lower Moyamensing Civic Association
When: January 3rd and 4th, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: South Philly High School, 2101 South Broad Street
Cost: $5 donation per tree
LOMO is partnering with Bartlett Tree Experts to turn your Christmas trees into wood chips to be used in community parks and gardens.
Friends of Schuylkill River Park
When: January 3rd and 10th, 9 a.m.-noon
Where: Schuylkill River Park, 300 South 25th Street
Cost: $20 suggested donation
Donate your tree to Schuylkill River Park to become mulch for park plantings.
City of Philadelphia Drop-Off Sites
When: January 10th and 17th, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at drop-off sites; January 5th-17th (except Sundays) at Sanitation Convenience Centers
Where: Select locations (see below)
Cost: Free
Trees placed curbside are collected by the City as trash, but they also have designated locations (as well as their Sanitation Convenience Centers) they are accepting trees to be sent to a vendor and turned into wood chips for compost.
The City of Philadelphia’s temporary Christmas tree recycling sites (yellow) and Sanitation Centers (purple), mapped. / Image courtesy of the City of Philadelphia
Saturday drop-off sites:
- Cathedral & Ridge avenues
- Gravers Lane & Seminole Street
- Washington Lane & Ardleigh Street
- Wayne Avenue & Logan Street
- Fox Chase Recreation Center, 7901 Ridgeway Street
- Jardel Recreation Center, 1400 Cottman Avenue
- Castor Avenue & Foulkrod Street
- 54th Street & Woodbine Avenue
- Corinthian Avenue & Poplar Street
- American & Thompson streets
- 43rd Street & Powelton Avenue
- 52nd & Pine streets
- 4300 Chester Avenue
- Broad & Christian streets
- 15th & Bigler streets
Sanitation Convenience Centers:
- 300 Domino Lane
- State Road & Ashburner Street
- 2601 West Glenwood Avenue
- 3901 North Delaware Avenue
- 5100 Grays Avenue
- 3033 South 63rd Street
Private Pick-Up: Bennett Compost
When: Sign up for your timeslot.
Where: Your house!
Cost: $20 per tree
In addition to all the neighborhood events, Bennett Compost offers pick-up services throughout Philadelphia, even if you aren’t currently a subscriber. Just sign up online, and they’ll come pick up your tree and turn it into compost.