Here’s Where to Recycle Your Christmas Tree in Missoula for Free

Santa has made his rounds and another Christmas is in the books. Over the next few weeks holiday decorations, for some will be taken down. For others, the decorations may stay up until this spring or beyond. The one decoration that probably won't last that long is a fresh cut Christmas tree. By now some of the needles may be falling off and you may want to look at getting rid of the tree.

For those that have a fresh cut Christmas tree, Missoula will again this year recycle them at no charge to you. Since Missoula purchased EKO compost back in 2016 and changed the name to Garden City Compost, they continue to offer free recycling for your Christmas trees.

Trees can be dropped off directly at Garden City Compost at 1125 Clark Fork Lane. With the help of Missoula's City Street Maintenance workers, there are other locations for tree drop off in three of Missoula's parks.

• McCormick Park
• Playfair Park
• Fort Missoula Regional Park (South Ave. parking lot)

To make sure this service continues for the community there are a few things to keep in mind. Make sure you take off all ornaments and lights. Make sure there are no stands attached to the trees. They will not take yard waste. Trees will be accepted until January 15, so there is still some time to enjoy the last of your Christmas trees.

This year is the first year I won't be making a trip to Playfair to drop off my tree, we didn't get a real tree this year for the first time ever. A part of me misses having a real tree. I even liked taking the trip down to Playfair Park and dropping off the tree. Maybe next year. In the meantime, I want to thank Garden City Compost for recycling those trees again this year for free.