Let’s all “Chip In” and recycle our Christmas trees this year! 🎄

When the holiday season ends, you may be wondering what to do with your (live) Christmas tree? Here are your SUSTAINABLE options:

For those who have the capacity, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) recommends leaving your tree in your backyard for the rest of the winter, to benefit the backyard wildlife. When the snow melts and the needles are gone, you can speed up the decomposition process by cutting off the branches and placing them over flowerbeds and placing the trunk over soil.

Forest Park School is accepting trees for their students to use in the schoolyard! The children use donated trees to work on forts, make bird feeders, enjoy the smells, and cut off the branches to play with in order to stay active outside!

Aurora Farm, located in St. Norbert, Man., is collecting Christmas trees and feeding them to their goats! Throughout the week from 11 am – 5 pm, you can drop your tree off at the farm and watch the animals from the safety and comfort of your own vehicle.

From December 27 – January 31 during regular hours of operation, you can drop your tree off at one of the City of Winnipeg’s “Lets Chip In” depots for it to be recycled into wood chips and/or composted! Keep in mind the tree needs to be bare, so remove all the decorations and tinsel before dropping it off.

Let’s Chip In depot locations

Brady 4R Winnipeg Depot
Weekdays: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed: January 1
1777 Brady Road

Charleswood Centre
24-hour access
3900 Grant Ave (Northwest corner of the Safeway parking lot
along Haney Street, access off Haney Street)

Kilcona Park
7:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Lagimodiere Boulevard and McIvor Avenue (In the off-leash dog park parking lot)

Kildonan Park
7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
2015 Main Street (Rainbow Stage parking lot)

King’s Park
8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
198 King’s Drive (South parking lot)

Pacific 4R Winnipeg Depot
Weekdays (except Wednesdays): 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.,
Closed: January 1, every Wednesday
1120 Pacific Avenue

Panet 4R Winnipeg Depot
Weekdays (except Wednesdays): 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.,
Closed: January 1, every Wednesday
429 Panet Road

St. James Civic Centre
24-hour access
2055 Ness Avenue (Northwest corner parking lot)

St. Vital Park
8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
190 River Road (South parking lot)

Vimy Arena
Permanently closed.

Winnipeg Soccer Complex
24-hour access
900 Waverley Street at Victor Lewis Drive

FAQ

Can I save my Christmas tree until spring and place it out for my yard waste collection?
Yes, you can bundle your Christmas tree for yard waste collection. The bundle must be no longer than one metre (39 inches) and contain small branches (no more than 10 cm or 4 inches in diameter).

Can I request a large item pickup for my Christmas tree?
No, the city does not accept trees in their large item collection program.

Can I place my Christmas tree in my garbage or recycling cart?
Christmas trees:

• are not accepted in recycling carts.
• can be cut up and placed in the garbage cart, as long as the lid is closed and the tree pieces fall freely when the cart is emptied*

*Please consider the environment this holiday season by avoiding disposing of your tree via the garbage cart. Aside from taking up precious space, organics in the landfill emit methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than  CO_2. Instead, choose to chip or compost your tree!