Recycle and repurpose your Christmas tree with the District Council

Residents can book their real tree to be collected for recycling for a £5 fee. An exact date for collection cannot be given but collections will be carried out on or after Monday 8 January. To book your collection go to: https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/recycling/christmas-tree-recycling/.

A popular service year on year, the scheme allows the District Council and residents to work together to create a greener Newark and Sherwood as the trees collected are recycled into chippings and repurposed across the district’s parks and green spaces as path surfacing, mulch on shrubs beds and more!

The money collected from the service is also reinvested back into the community. In previous years the money has gone towards planting more trees in the district and has also been offered to community groups for conservation work, including tree and hedgerow planting.

In January 2023 over 460 trees were collected and recycled by the District Council’s Waste Management Team.

Councillor Emma Oldham, Portfolio Holder for Biodiversity and Environmental Services at Newark and Sherwood District Council said: “Embracing the Christmas Tree Recycling initiative is a fantastic way to kickstart your year on a sustainable note, alleviating the hassle of tree disposal while making a meaningful contribution to our community's environmental well-being."

“We're all aware of the astronomical amount of waste generated during the festive season, from gift wrapping to food waste and decorations. Opting to recycle your tree offers a simple opportunity to celebrate the holidays in a more sustainable manner. Participants not only play a role in transforming trees into valuable chippings but also actively contribute to the improvement of our parks and green spaces."

If residents pay for a garden waste collection service, they can also cut their real trees and place them in their garden waste bin for recycling, remembering that the lid must be able to close.

All real trees can also be taken to any household recycling centre in the district.