2026 Chicago Holiday Tree Recycling
Chicago's Holiday Tree Recycling events return from Saturday, January 3rd through the 17th at 27 parks across the city!
Why tree recycling is good for the planet
Trees collected at the Holiday Tree Recycling events are turned into mulch. Mulching trees is far more earth-friendly than sending them to landfills. In landfills, rotting organic matter like plants, trees, and food releases methane, a greenhouse gas that fuels climate change. By foregoing the landfill, your tree will instead benefit plants and soil at local parks and forests.
How to participate
Chicago's Tree Recycling Program runs from January 3 -17, 2026. Trees can be dropped off at any time during normal park hours. Look for signs indicating the drop-off spot.
Only live/natural trees without flocking are accepted. Garlands and wreaths are not accepted. Because the trees are turned into mulch, all tinsel, ornaments, lights, and stands must be removed. Plastic bags used for transport must also be removed before placing trees in the stalls.
Six locations will also offer free mulch to residents on a first-come, first-served basis, starting Monday, January 5th: Lincoln Park, Margate Park, Mt. Greenwood Park, North Park Village, Warren Park, and the Forestry Site.
*Star = mulch available beginning Monday, Jan. 5
Bessemer Park, 8930 S. Muskegon Ave.
Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell St.
*Forestry Site, 900 E. 103rd St.
Garfield Park, 100 N. Central Park Ave.
Grant Park, 900 S. Columbus Dr.
Hiawatha Park, 8029 W. Forest Preserve Dr.
Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1369 N. Sacramento Ave
Jackson Park, 6300 S. Cornell Ave.
Kennedy Park, 2427 W. 113th St.
Kelvyn Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Lake Meadows Park, 3117 S. Rhodes Ave.
*Lincoln Park, Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Ave. (East side of Cannon Dr.)
Mahalia Jackson Park, 8385 S. Birkhoff Ave.
*Margate Park, 4921 N. Marine Dr.
Marquette Park, 6700 S. Kedzie Ave.
McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Rd.
*Mt. Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th St.
*North Park Village, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
Norwood Park (Service Yard), 5800 N Avondale Ave.
Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.
Riis Park, 6201 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Rowan Park, 11546 S. Avenue L
Sheridan Park, 910 S. Aberdeen St.
Walsh Park, 1722 N. Ashland Ave.
*Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave.
Wentworth Park, 5701 S. Narragansett Ave.
West Chatham Park, 8223 S. Princeton Ave.
Onward and Upward
In 2025, over 22,000 trees were collected through Holiday Tree Recycling events. Way to be, Chicago. Let's top that number this year!
Lastly, please remember to keep stringy things out of the recycling bin when dismantling your tree. Happy holidays, everybody!
You might also enjoy:
Free Mulch. Why You Want It & Where to Get It - Where to score free mulch all year round.
Chicago Recycling Quiz - A two-minute crash course to becoming an excellent Chicago Recycler.
sources:
National Christmas Tree Association
City of Chicago
Chicago Park District
Updated: Nov 13, 2025
