At a recent press conference in North Hollywood, LA Sanitation and Environment’s Acting Director and General Manager Traci Minamide let the public know about a few different, accessible choices for when it’s time to send that pine packing. LASAN offers one of the most convenient options of all: curbside pickup. We’ve put together a helpful list of questions to ask yourself to see how you can make use of this city service:

  1. Has your tree grown dry? Then it’s time to say good-bye! As wonderful as it can be to have a piece of the outdoors in your living room, once those needles turn dry, what was once a bit of wintry magic becomes a fire hazard.
  2. Did you un-trim all the trimmings? Be sure to remove all your decorations before you prepare your tree for its journey onward.
    • Save as many decorations as you can for future reuse. It’s sustainable, and also will help you save on decor next year.
    • Remember: string lights, cables, and other electronic waste do not go in the trash! Bring those to your nearest S.A.F.E. Center.
  3. Live in a single-family house? Go for the green bin: After all the tinsel, lights, and ornaments are gone, a Christmas tree is ultimately just another plant – which means you’re welcome to dispose of it just as you would any other piece of organic waste! Residents skilled with an ax or large knife can chop up their trees into smaller segments to fit inside their green bins.
    • The green bin is also the perfect receptacle for any food scraps leftover from your New Year’s festivities. Ditto yard trimmings and garden clippings, if your New Year’s Resolution is to get your outdoor space in order.
    • LASAN is offering this option until January 31st. This is also the cut-off date for the City’s Extra Cardboard Collection program – feel free to bundle up to 30 pounds of cardboard (cut into 4×4 squares) to set beside your blue recycle bin.
  4. Have an apartment, condo, or oversized tree? Get that fir to the curb: Not able to slice and dice your tree to fit it into a green bin? Or do you live in a multi-family building, sharing one green bin among many households? Never fear! Until January 31st, Angelenos can simply set their trees out on the curb (next to the green bin) on your regularly scheduled trash collection day. LASAN or recycLA will come by and gather up your tossed Tannenbaum, free of charge.
  5. Is your tree really big? Trees that max out past the six-foot mark may need a little extra help: for these super-sized saplings, you can arrange for a bulky item pickup.
    • For bulky item pickup, you can call the Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489 or go online to MYLA311 and select “Item Pickups”
  6. Is it February? Did you happen to choose an exceptionally hardy tree? Although LASAN’s special accommodations for Christmas trees end on January 31st, you can still arrange for a bulky item pickup via the Customer Care Center or 311.

Looking for Other Options?

Although curbside/green bin/bulk item pickup are all three variations of one very convenient option, there are other choices available, too!

  • Visit a drop-off location: Sometimes, bringing the tree out of the house can feel like just as much of a family tradition as the trip to scoop it up to bring home. Taking the time to visit a drop-off location can feel like a real “good-bye.” A number of fire stations across the city will accept old Christmas trees throughout the month of January, and the following local parks are serving as collection locations for one day only on Sunday, January 4, 2026 from 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM:
    • Griffith Park – LA Zoo Parking Lot, 5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
    • Sunland Park – 8651 Foothill Blvd, Sunland, CA 91040
    • Balboa Sports Center – 17015 Burbank Blvd, Encino, CA 91316
    • Rancho Cienega Rec Center – 5001 Obama Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
    • Cheviot Hills Rec Center – 2551 Motor Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90064
    • Westchester Municipal Bldg – 7166 W Manchester Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045
    • Visit LASAN for a full list of the fire stations that will accept bare Christmas trees until January 31st.
  • Merry Mulching! The city has two mulching facilities that will happily accept your tree during their operating hours. Both are open Mon-Sun, 9am-4pm.
    • Lopez Canyon Environmental Education Center
      11950 Lopez Canyon Road, Lake View Terrace, CA 91342
      Please place your tree(s) in the rolloff bin by the entrance. 
    • Available January 2-31, 2026.
    • Harbor Safe Center
      1400 N Gaffey St
      San Pedro, CA 90731
      Available from December 26, 2025, through January 15, 2026

And for Everyone…

No matter which route you take to safely dispose of your Christmas tree, you’ll be doing the responsible thing for your home and for your community. And remember – bidding adieu to the holiday season doesn’t have to mean putting an end to the festive spirit. After all, there’s something very warm and fuzzy about taking the time to protect your neighborhood from unnecessary fire hazards, while also participating in our city’s dedicated organic waste disposal services. 

For more information about the Christmas tree recycling program, visit http://lacitysan.org/treerecycleor contact the LASAN 24-hour Customer Care Center at (800) 773-2489. Electronic waste and all types of batteries must be safely disposed of at one of LASAN’s S.A.F.E. Centers.