Tree services
How do I get rid of my Christmas tree in Madison?
A common question, answered by the MadisonWI.com editors · November 10, 2026
1 answer
From MadisonWI.com
The City of Madison Streets Division collects Christmas trees at the curb in January. Take off the stand and every decoration (lights, tinsel, ornaments and the topper), don't put the tree in a bag, and set it on the terrace or at the road edge along the public street, at least four feet from poles, hydrants and other obstructions. Last season the City ran two collection rounds in January, each with a set-out deadline of 6:30am on its first day; a tree that missed the second round waited until spring. Snowstorms can pause collection while crews plow, and if your tree gets buried you need to dig it out. Wreaths, garlands, evergreen rope and boughs aren't collected with trees: they usually hold wire that damages the chipper, so they go in the trash. You can also take a tree to a Streets Division drop-off site; check the site hours first. Collected trees are ground into mulch. The City posts each season's exact dates in late December. Source: City of Madison Streets Division, How to Have Your Christmas Tree Collected (checked November 2026).
Written by the MadisonWI.com editors · November 10, 2026