Scotland: Where and How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays January 2022

Scotland councils and boroughs

Most areas have either :

  • Kerbside collection (in some cases, cut the tree and put in the green waste bin - Some allow the whole Christmas tree to be placed by the kerb), or
  • Drop-off locations or
  • Both

In ALL cases, remove all ornaments, tinsel, decorations, lights, stands, pots, planters, netting, etc.

Some household waste and recycling collections have been slightly delayed as a result of the national shortage of HGV drivers, which is affecting haulage sectors throughout the UK. Most residents will not see any change from their normal waste collections dates as over 98% of all collections are unaffected, but...

Always follow the link (click on the council or borough name) to get the most current information. There are often last minute changes; do NOT assume nothing has changed since we last revised this page!.

  • Aberdeen city - kerbside collection
    Trees are collected along brown rubbish bins, preferably cut up and placed inside. Collections scheduled between the second and third week in January. For residents using communal bins, leave trees next to bins between 3 of January and mid-January for collection.
  • Aberdeenshire - drop-off at a recycling centre
    Take to a local recycling area to be composted along with garden waste.
  • Angus - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    Christmas trees can be cut up and placed in the garden waste bin, or recycled in the garden waste skip at a recycling centre. Or the council will collect the tree for a special collection fee of £25.60.
  • Argyll and Bute - drop-off at a recycling centre
    Trees to be taken to a recycling centres for composting.
  • Clackmannanshire - drop-off at a recycling centre
    Christmas trees to be disposed of alongside the garden waste at the Forthbank recycling centre in Alloa.
  • Dumfries and Galloway - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    Tree lengths up to 1m can be put out for collection next to your waste bin or refuse sacks until 18 January, or taken to a recycling centre.
  • Dundee - drop-off at a recycling centre
    The city's two recycling centres on Piper Street and Wright Avenue will compost the trees.
  • East Ayrshire - kerbside collection
    Trees will be collected in the brown bin collections. Householders should cut them down to fit in the bin. Also, a separate collection of trees will take place in mid-January. All will be sent for composting.
  • East Dunbartonshire - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    Skips are arranged in Kirkintilloch, Bishopbriggs and Bearsden for locals to put their Christmas trees in. There are also collections for residents who cannot take their tree to the centre.
  • East Lothian - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    You can take your tree to a recycling centre for composting, or put it beside the brown bin for collection on your garden waste collection day.
  • East Renfrewshire - kerbside collection
    Christmas trees will be collected in the week beginning the second week in January. They can also be left with your garden waste bin on your regular collection day to be recycled.
  • Edinburgh - If you have signed up to receive garden waste collections, you should put your tree on the kerbside on collection day. If you have not signed up for garden waste collections, or use communal rubbish and recycling facilities, then you should put your tree next to your communal bin on the tree collection day for your street.
  • Falkirk- kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    Take to recycling centres or a brown bin collection can be arranged for free via Falkirk Council.
  • Fife - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    Either put the Christmas tree in your brown bin, or take it to a recycling centre. Binned trees must be cut up so the lid can be closed.
  • Glasgow - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    Real Christmas trees can be put in the brown bin for kerbside collection for those who have one. Again, the tree should be cut up so the lid can close. Also, Take to any of the council recycling centres, or taken to one of the three recycling points in Kelvingrove, Pollok or Alexandra Park during the first 2 weeks after New Years in January. The trees are chipped and shredded on site for use within the parks. Chippings will be available for the public to take free of charge from Pollok Park.
  • Highland - drop-off at a recycling centre
    Take Christmas trees to the local recycling centres (they are then composted)
  • Inverclyde - drop-off at a recycling centre
    Take to one of the garden waste containers at the recycling depots in Greenock and Gourock.
  • Midlothian - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    If you cannot take your tree to your nearest recycling centre, the council will arrange a bulky collection for a charge of £25.
  • Moray - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    You can recycle your tree by putting it out next to your brown bin, or taking it to your nearest recycling centre. All Christmas trees collected in Moray are sent to Keenan Recycling in Turriff to be turned into compost.
  • North Ayrshire - Christmas trees will be collected from the kerbside in January. You can check the collection date for your address here.
  • North Lanarkshire - A special collection of your tree can be arranged via the council free by phoning 01698 403110. The trees are sent to a contractor to be composted.
  • Orkney Islands - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    Orkney Islands Council will do a Christmas tree collection in February - all trees collected this way will be added to garden waste piles. Alternatively, they can be taken to local recycling centres.
  • Perth and Kinross - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    You can chop up your tree and put it in your brown-lidded bin if you have a garden waste permit, or take it to a local recycling centre.
  • Renfrewshire - drop-off at a recycling centre
    Real Christmas trees should be taken to your nearest recycling site and put in the green waste skips.
  • Scottish Borders - drop-off at a recycling centre
    Take your tree to any recycling centre for composting.
  • Shetland Islands - Christmas trees that are deposited at the Council's recycling centre are sent to the local Energy Recovery Plant. This is more cost effective than shipping the trees to the Scottish mainland - and produces hot water for the Lerwick district heating scheme during one of the coldest periods of the year.
  • South Ayrshire - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    Cut up the tree and put it in your brown bin. You can arrange a free winter brown bin collection. You can also contact the council on 0300 123 0900 to arrange a collection.
  • South Lanarkshire - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    Cut your Christmas tree to fit in your waste bin with the lid closed for kerbside collection. You can also request a free green waste collection, or take your tree to any of the recycling centres.
  • Stirling - drop-off at a recycling centre
    Take Christmas trees to any of the recycling centres in the area.
  • West Dunbartonshire - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    Real trees can be composted after the Christmas period through either the brown waste bin kerbside collection system or by taking the tree to one of the area's recycling centres at Renton or Old Kilpatrick.
  • Western Isles - drop-off at a recycling centre
  • West Lothian - kerbside collection, or drop-off at a recycling centre
    Cut up real Christmas trees and place them in or beside your brown bins at the kerbside on the next scheduled collection day. Trees can also be taken to any of the area's five household waste recycling centres to be taken to a composting facility.