Ways To Recycle Your Holiday Tree In The Binghamton New York Area

Christmas is over, except for Russian Christmas which is January 7th. I will be sad to see all the light displays that lit up the Southern Tier for the past month or so, gone for another year.

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But it's about time to shut them down and store them away...or not. I've seen a few homes leave them up and on well into February. I took down my lights just after New Year's Day, and the Christmas Tree was taken down on December 31st. That's the earliest I've ever done that.

For many years, my wife and I have put up an artificial tree. It is just easier and more convenient for us to have a fake tree. For those of you who have a real tree, what are your plans for disposing of it?

There are options in the Triple Cities Area if you are not sure what to do. One option is to take it to the Ross Park Zoo. You may wonder why would the Zoo want your discarded tree.

The simple answer is that they used that for their animal habitats. If you do drop off your Christmas Tree at the Ross Park Zoo, please make sure it is decoration-free, without hooks, tinsel, or any treatments (flocking, fire retardant, insecticide, etc.).

The Ross Park Zoo says you can drop off your natural tree at the 185 Park Avenue delivery gate Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through January 30th.

In the City of Binghamton, Christmas Tree pickups will be on Monday, January 8th, and Monday, January 22nd. Please leave your trees at the curb, and be sure there are no ornaments, tinsel, or decorations left on the tree.

The Town of Union is accepting discarded Christmas Trees from town residents for recycling at Grippen Park during normal business hours. They ask that you not leave plastic bags on the trees.

The Town of Vestal offers Christmas Tree pick-up through March 1, 2024. Rules include no plastic tree bags, tinsel, tree stands, ornaments/decorations, tree lights, or artificial trees. The Town of Vestal notes that if can't wait for pick up, residents only may bring their tree to 1801 Glenwood Road Highway Department, Monday through Friday betweek the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Broome County Recycles also has drop-off points for your discarded Christmas Tree. Check the details below: