City of Cedar Rapids Announces Live Christmas Tree Disposal and Recycling Options

Cedar Rapids residents have several options for disposing of live Christmas trees following the holiday season.

Curbside collection of live, unflocked Christmas trees will take place from Friday, December 26, 2025, through Friday, January 16, 2026. Whole trees should be placed at the collection area at least three feet from carts. Trees may also be placed in a YARDY cart as long as the lid can fully close. To protect crew safety, trees must be placed at curb height. Trees placed on top of snowbanks will not be collected.

Drop-off recycling is also available during this same timeframe at Prairie Park Fishery, 2125 Otis Rd SE. Trees should be placed in the designated parking lot drop-off area. Trees dropped off at Prairie Park Fishery will be reused as fish habitat as the ice melts in the spring.

To prepare trees for curbside collection or drop-off recycling, residents must remove all tinsel, ornaments, decorations, stands, watering packets, tree wrap, and netting. Trees should not be placed in plastic bags. Flocked trees, wreaths, and garland are not accepted for recycling and must be disposed of as garbage. These items are to be cut into sections no longer than three (3) feet and have a $2.25 garbage sticker affixed before being set out for regular garbage pickup.

For more information about live Christmas tree disposal and recycling, visit here.