For over 25 years, the City of New Orleans has partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Army National Guard in the annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program. New Orleans residents participate in the program by placing their trees curbside for collection or dropping them off at designated sites. The recycled trees are placed in the wetlands at Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge to help protect the natural marsh and shoreline by reducing wave action and slowing erosion. The trees also create new habitats for the birds, fish, and other wildlife that live in the refuge. Diverting trees from the landfill aligns with the City of New Orleans’ Climate Action Plan to decrease the amount of waste going into the landfill. This innovative program provides an eco-friendly solution for post-holiday trees. Over the years, the recycled trees have restored marsh across an area equal to almost 200 football fields in Bayou Sauvage.
The 2023/2024 Christmas Tree Recycling Program collected 8,000 trees, very close to the goal that was set at 10,000 and double the amount from the previous year of 4,000. The goal of the 2024/2025 program is to collect 8,000. You can help us reach this goal by doing any of the following:
December 26th through January 3rd – Call 311 for curbside pickup,
December 26th through January 5th - Drop your trees at these locations: East Bank: 2930 Lafitte Ave. and West Bank: Bodenger Park, 3400 Kansas St.,
January 6th through January 10th - Place your trees on the curb by 5 a.m. for the scheduled pickup.
Residents in the French Quarter and Downtown Development District should place their trees curbside before 4 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9th only.
Trees cannot be flocked or have remnants of tinsel, and all ornamentation should be removed before recycling. Only live trees are acceptable.
Thanks to all residents who participated last year, our Office of Resilience and Sustainability’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program won the prestigious Public Relations Society of America New Orleans Chapter “Anvil” Award! So, that makes our residents winners, too!