2025 Christmas Tree recycling

[James Barber]

I know I'm a bit premature but don't want to forget through too much Chrisntas cheer!

Southwark Council Christmas trees recycling arrangements 2025 - bit worrying for the future that they're emphasising the free bit.

"We’ll collect and recycle your real Christmas tree for free! 

Trees should not be taller than 5ft. You should chop any taller trees into smaller pieces.

Remove all decorations and the pot or stand and recycle it by:

• putting your tree with your garden waste containers on collection day
• requesting a free collection if you do not have a garden waste collection 
• taking it to our Reuse and Recycling Centre [43 Devon Street, SE15 1AL open 08:30-16:30 Mon-Sun]

If you live in a flat you must leave the tree:

• outside on the kerb
• visible for the collection crew
• not in a bin store"

I'll add the link to the collection booking service when it opens on 22 December. 

[James Barber]

Please do keep pavements clear for pushchairs, etc, when leaving trees outside. 

[first mate]

Surprised to see very large Christmas trees dumped and blocking pavement in Melbourne Grove area and beyond. 

[march46]

Sadly this is a problem every year and on every road.

[CPR Dave]

It's not really a "problem" FFS. They've all been collected now.

[march46]

They haven’t all been collected and it’s very much a problem if you are using a pavement and there is an obstruction - particularly if you are visually impaired, in a wheelchair or pushing a buggy. 

[jim_the_chin]

Have people had their trees collected? Requested mine on 2nd and still here 

[Penguin68]

My tree was collected with the normal garden waste collection on the normal day this week. Other trees left out, including by those without a garden waste brown bin were also collected. From Underhill. 

[Jenijenjen]

Walking around East Dulwich this morning there are still LOADS of Christmas trees awaiting collection both in front gardens and the pavement. 

[intexasatthe moment]

There is a very large number of Christmas trees in Dunstan's Grove ,at the junction with Dunstan's Rd

I presume they are waiting for a group collection.

[Spartacus]

3 hours ago, intexasatthe moment said:

There is a very large number of Christmas trees in Dunstan's Grove ,at the junction with Dunstan's Rd

I presume they are waiting for a group collection.

Are they hanging around in "tree gangs" now, intimidatimg passers-by threatening to "needle" them or asking for support as they served the country before being callously abandoned after they weren't needed any more? 

You can help by  going to http://veterantrees.co.uk/ and donating your old tinsel and out of date chocolate coins 🤣

[Huggers]

Didn’t realize we needed to book collection and looks like others in street didn’t either. But I’d have thought the council could have just taken them when they come for the pre-booked instead of making several journeys.  

[Sue]

19 minutes ago, Huggers said:

Didn’t realize we needed to book collection and looks like others in street didn’t either. But I’d have thought the council could have just taken them when they come for the pre-booked instead of making several journeys.  

Maybe they don't have space for them all in one collection? 

[whirly]

Ours was collected on Tuesday. I’m sure I read somewhere to leave the tee by the brown food bin and they would collect it. That’s what happened for us anyway. 
 

I don’t understand why people with front gardens or yards feel the need to put them out on the pavement.

[march46]

2 hours ago, whirly said:

I don’t understand why people with front gardens or yards feel the need to put them out on the pavement.

It’s the same for wheelie bins. So many bins are left out obstructing the pavement when there is plenty of room to store them within the property boundary. 

[spider69]

Are you talking about the bin men who leave the bins all over the street when emptied.

[march46]

No, residents who don’t return their bin to within the boundary of their property. 

[CPR Dave]

People leave trees on the street because Southwark council tell them too. 

A load more trees were collected today. 

It's a small inconvenience for the joyless of East Dulwich to complain about, just like bonfire night. 

Anyway, you won't need to worry about it any more until December.

 

Quote

Free Christmas tree recycling

Christmas tree collections bookings have closed for this year and will reopen again on 21 December 2026 and close on 18 January 2027. 

We’ll collect and recycle your real Christmas tree for free! 

Trees should not be taller than 5ft. You should chop any taller trees into smaller pieces.

Remove all decorations and the pot or stand and recycle it by:

• putting your tree with your garden waste containers on collection day
• requesting a free collection if you do not have a garden waste collection
• taking it to our Reuse and Recycling Centre

If you live in a flat you must leave the tree:

• outside on the kerb
• visible for the collection crew
• not in a bin store

 

 

Edited January 13 by CPR Dave