Hillsborough County offers Christmas tree recycling options

· Tampa Bay, Florida Local News · By ReportWire

GIBSONTON, Fla. — The holidays may be winding down, but there’s a way to give your Christmas tree a new life as there are several disposal options in Hillsborough County.

What You Need To Know

  • Hillsborough County offers tree recycling at yard waste facilities

  • Trees can be turned into mulch for your yard

  • Curbside pickup is available for cut-up trees

  • Other nearby counties also provide similar services


Jose Lopez dropped his tree off early Saturday morning at one of the county’s yard waste processing facilities.

“I know people who burn them … but at the end of the day, the right thing to do is come and take it to the dump,” Lopez said.

Stephanie Watson with Hillsborough County’s solid waste department says recycling options also help keep the trees out of the landfill.

“If you were to dispose of the tree in your garbage can, it would go into the landfill and it would be disposed forever,” Watson said. “By us grinding your Christmas tree into mulch, you can use that in your yard for cover for your flowerbeds, especially with spring coming up.”

Residents can take up to two cubic yards of the ground-up mulch.

“It’s an easy process, and it’s the right thing to do,” Lopez said.

There are two yard waste processing facilities Hillsborough County residents can use:

  • South County Solid Waste Facility, 13000 U.S. 41, Gibsonton, FL 33534
  • Northwest County Solid Waste Facility, 8001 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, FL 33625

Both the South and Northwest Solid Waste Facilities are open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You’ll have to show your photo ID and a copy of your property tax bill during drop off.

There are other options. Trees can be left curbside and will be picked up on routine yard waste collection days. It needs to be cut up into pieces no larger than four feet long and six inches wide. The decorations have to be removed too.

Another option the county suggested was to make the tree into a bird feeder.

“You can put it in your yard, place peanut butter pinecones, sliced fruit,” Watson said.

For people who live outside of Hillsborough County, there are similar options.

Pinellas and Pasco counties also have drop-off locations where they will mulch your tree. 

Manatee County has curbside service where the trees will be picked up on yard waste collection day. 

Just make sure it’s no longer than four feet and the decorations have been removed.

Tyler O’Neill

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