Free real Christmas tree recycling returns

Published: Friday, December 26, 2025

Wandsworth’s real Christmas tree recycling service is back, offering residents several free and sustainable options for recycling your real Christmas trees after the festive period.

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Paul White, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “This year, we’ve opened even more drop-off points, making it easier for local people to recycle their real Christmas trees.

“Last year we recycled over 174 tonnes of real Christmas trees, so thank you to everyone who used the service, and we look forward to delivering this for you again, even bigger and better, in 2025/26.”

After trees are collected, they are sent for composting, part of our commitment to sustainability and protecting the environment.

Drop-off points

Drop off your real tree at one of the following 10 free drop-off points from Boxing Day (Friday 26 December) until 31 January:

  • Acanthus Road, Battersea, parking bays at the end of the road next to Grayshott playground, SW11 5TY
  • Battersea Park, Albert Bridge car park, Albert Bridge Road, SW11 4NU
  • Battersea Park, Chelsea Gate car park, Carriage Drive North, SW11 4NJ
  • Cobham Close, SW11 6HR - Large paved area, by Bolingbroke Grove next to Pembury Court
  • Cortis Road shops car park, SW15 3BD - Paved area, underneath shops walkway
  • Roehampton Youth Club car park, 15 Holybourne Avenue, SW15 4JD
  • Tooting Common, Dr Johnson car park, SW17 8JU
  • Tooting Leisure Centre car park, Greaves Place, SW17 0NE
  • Nuffield Health Car Park, Burr Road, Wandsworth, SW18 4SQ
  • Book a slot and take your tree to the Smugglers Way reuse and recycling centre

Christmas tree collections

Put your real tree just outside your home on your usual collection day from Monday 5 January until 30 January and we'll collect it the same day, but in a different vehicle.

Here are some handy tips about how to put out your trees. Remember, it should be put out on your usual collection day:

  • If you have a front garden: Put your tree out for collection next to your rubbish and recycling bags, but not on the street.
  • If you do not have a front garden: Put your tree just outside your front door on the pavement, taking care not to block where people walk.
  • If you live in a block of flats: Leave your tree near to your rubbish or recycling bin store, making sure you do not block access to the bins.

Trees are sent for composting, so we will not collect any trees that are:

  • Plastic or not real
  • Still decorated
  • In soil, or with excessive soil attached
  • In a pot or stand
  • Over 6ft - please cut it into smaller pieces
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From 5 January, you can report a missed collection if your tree was missed on collection day. Please remember it will be collected by a different vehicle, so don’t report a missed collection until after 7pm on collection day if it has still not been collected.

Report an abandoned tree

Dumped Christmas trees are unsightly and can cause a dangerous obstruction. Tell us if you come across a real Christmas tree that has been abandoned on the street or in another public place.

Report an abandoned tree

Rubbish and recycling collection changes

Over the festive period, some household rubbish and recycling collection dates will be a day later:

Normal collection day

Revised collection day
Thursday 25 December Friday 26 December
Friday 26 December Saturday 27 December
Monday 29 December No change
Tuesday 30 December No change
Wednesday 31 December No change
Thursday 1 January Friday 2 January
Friday 2 January Saturday 3 January

Collections return to normal on Monday 5 January.

Mega Skip Day

This Saturday 27 December, the Mega Skips will be touring the borough and heading to the following locations:

  • Malva Close, SW18 2JU
  • Larch Close, SW12 9SY
  • Putney Park Lane, SW15 5HU
  • Acanthus Road, SW11 5TY
  • Ackroydon Estate, Tymperley Court, SW19 6QS
  • Church Lane car park, SW17 9PP
  • Hyacinth Road, SW15 4LW

The skips will be open from 9am to 12 noon or until the skip is full (whichever comes first).

Learn more about what you can bring to the Mega Skips.

Cleaner Borough Plan

Our real Christmas tree recycling service supports our Cleaner Borough Plan.

We’ve collected more than 8,200 tonnes of extra recycling this year thanks to residents’ hard work and our Cleaner Borough Plan, which aims to improve waste and recycling services and make it easier and simpler to recycle.

Improvements include: