by: Rich Segal – KXAN Austin
Posted: Dec 18, 2025
AUSTIN (KXAN) — It will be a few more weeks before the Christmas trees start coming down. Many people will just discard the tree in one fashion or another.
During the holidays, the Christmas tree is purchased, brought home, and decorated. At the end of the season, the decorations come down and then carted outside for pickup.
But, there is a far better way to ensure the tree has a more complete life, so to speak. It’s a way to help keep the environment thriving by recycling the tree.
Texas Disposal Systems will be offering to recycle your Christmas tree at their Austin and San Antonio locations. The goal is twofold. For starters, they want to keep trees out of the landfill and, second, they want to repurpose the tree into mulch and compost.
Recycling the trees reduces waste, cuts down on the impacts to the environment, and, one thing you might not consider, is that tree gets that second life as organic mulch or compost.
Jenn Dudley is the director of marketing and communications for TDS. She talks about the condition the trees need to be in to be accepted for recycling. But, they will take trees not completely free of adornments. However, for these trees, there will be a contamination fee.
Trees will be accepted from the day after Christmas to the last day of January. People should take their trees to the TDS Landfill in Creedmoor. Hours are 7 a.m. to sunset Monday to Saturday.
The tree will be grinded down, turning them into the organic mulch and compost that benefit the environment.
TDS is encouraging people to visit their website or to call their facilities directly to learn more information.
Christmas has so many traditions. Recycling the tree can be another one!
