Recycle your Holiday Tree
As our Deschutes County Knott Landfill continues to fill up (it is anticipated to be full by 2029), we want to do our best to keep what we can out of it. And that includes your holiday tree! Trees can be turned into compost or mulch for reuse rather than rotting and decomposing into methane in the landfill. Lucky for us, we have several options to make this happen.
Before your recycle your tree, here are 3 things to note:
- Remove all tinsel, ornaments, and lights.
- Flocked trees are not recyclable.
- You can recycle broken strings of holiday lights at Deschutes Recycling at Knott Landfill for free.
- Want to close the loop? You can buy back mulch or compost from Deschutes Recycling!
How do I recycle my tree?
1. Donate to your local Boy Scouts for pick up.
For a requested minimum $10 donation, our local Boy Scout troops will collect and recycle your tree in Bend, Redmond, and Sisters!
Contact your local troop for pickup in the following areas:
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- SW Bend: west of 3rd Street and south of Newport/Greenwood – 541-385-3977
- NW Bend: west of 3rd Street and north of Newport/Greenwood – 541-385-2692
- NE Bend: east of 3rd Street and north of Greenwood/Highway 20 – 541-385-2672
- SE Bend: east of 3rd Street and south of Greenwood/Highway 20 – 541-385-3942
- Redmond: 541-385-3989
- Sisters: 541 385-2640
2. Compost your tree via curbside pick up.
Chop it up and put the pieces in your yard debris cart curbside service. Save any limb or trunk larger than 2″ in diameter for your backyard fire pit. You can sign up for an opt-in yard debris service through your garbage service provider within Bend and Redmond city limits. For City of Sisters customers, yard debris is included in your monthly service. Here is more information about curbside service.
3. Drop off your tree, free of charge.
Take your naked tree down for recycling.
- Knott Landfill: between December 26 and January 30
- Deschutes County transfer stations and the Sisters Recycling Center: January 2 – January 30.
4. Service Provider Pick-Up
Republic Services will collect your tree on your garbage day the week of January 11 – 15, 2021 for a $5 charge. Place your tree next to your rolling cart on that week. Cascade Disposal will also have a pick up option after the Boy Scouts’ dates. Check in with them to schedule.
