Reminder on how to recycle your Christmas tree

This month, until 31 January, if you put your Christmas tree out on your usual collection day, it will be collected for free. 

Residents are being reminded to put their trees out on their usual collection day, not before, and to make sure trees are correctly placed to avoid blocking pavements, which can make it difficult for other people, especially those with a disability or pushchairs, to move around. 

Putting your tree out for recycling

Here is a reminder of where you should put your tree for recycling based on your property: 

• Homes with front gardens: put your tree out for collection next to your rubbish and recycling bags, not on the street. 
• Homes with no front garden: put your tree just outside your front door on the pavement, taking care not to block where people walk. 
• Blocks of flats: leave your tree near your rubbish and recycling bin store, but don’t block access to the bins. 
• Remove any decorations or pots as the trees are sent for composting. 

Report a missed collection if your tree was missed on collection day. Please remember it will be collected by a different vehicle, so please wait until after 7pm on collection day to report a missed collection online if it has still not been collected. Alternatively, you can also contact us the next working day on 020 8871 8558. 

You should not report your tree as abandoned or as a missed collection if you are waiting for your usual collection day. 

If you do see a tree which has been dumped and is not set to be collected as part of the free collection service, please report this as an abandoned tree. 

Cllr Judi Gasser, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: 

“We are proud to be one of the few councils offering free Christmas tree collections as part of our recycling service, and to have opened twice the number of drop-off sites compared to last year. 

“It’s important that everyone follows the instructions we’ve set out to ensure trees are recycled correctly and don’t cause any clutter across the borough. 

“Thank you to all those who have used this service already. If you haven’t, it’s available until 31 January.” 

Drop-off sites

You can also take your Christmas tree to one of six free drop-off sites until 31 January, if easier: 

• 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  
• Nuffield Health Car Park, Burr Road, Wandsworth, SW18 4SQ 
• Tooting Common, Dr Johnson Car Park, SW17 8JU  
• Tooting Leisure Centre Car Park, Greaves Place, SW17 0NE 

Or you can bring it to Smugglers Way reuse and recycling centre. Remember you must book a slot to visit Smugglers Way. 

Learn more about the Christmas tree recycling service.