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How to dispose of your live Christmas tree in the Quad Cities

Here's how to have your tree picked up based on your hometown.

MOLINE, Ill. — If you have a live Christmas tree this year, you might be stuck wondering what to do with it once the holiday season comes to an end. 

Most cities in the Quad Cities have Christmas tree pickup services available in January. Here's how you can have your tree whisked away this year:

Moline

Christmas tree pickup will run from Jan. 2 until Jan. 12. Make sure your tree has no decorations, ornaments garlands or tinsel, then place it next to your garbage cart. It will be picked up on your regular garbage day.

Rock Island

Bare Christmas trees will be picked up for free from Jan. 8 to Jan. 19 on your regular garbage days. Place your tree at least 3 feet away from your garbage carts to be picked up by a separate truck.

Bettendorf

Trees will be picked up from now until Jan. 6 on your regular collection day. Remove any decorations before putting it out for collection. Artificial Christmas trees can be put out on scheduled bulky waste days.

Galesburg

Christmas tree recycling is available at the Lowe's parking lot at 531 W Carl Sandburg Drive until Jan. 4. Trees can also be placed on the curb on regular refuse pick-up days. Trees collected during refuse pick-up will not be recycled and can't be taller than 5 feet.

Muscatine

The City of Muscatine will assist Muscatine and Fruitland residents in recycling their live Christmas trees with curbside collection starting on Jan. 3, 2024. The City encourages residents to prepare live trees for curbside collection by removing all ornaments, wires and decorations from the tree along with any stand or other metal objects. Do not place the tree in a plastic bag. Trees taller than five feet should be cut into two sections. Flocked and artificial trees, along with wreaths, are considered garbage items and cannot be recycled. 

Clinton

Bare Christmas trees will be picked up starting the week of Jan. 8 over several weeks. To have your tree taken, create a work ticket by visiting the city website. Select "Solid Waste / Misc. Inquiry" in the drop-down menu, then write "Christmas tree pickup request" and your address in the issue description box.

Clinton County

The Clinton County Area Solid Waste Agency is holding free Christmas tree drop-offs for Clinton County residents. 

Dubuque

Dubuque's "Merry Mulch" tree collection returns from Jan. 2 to Jan. 12 on your regular collection day. Trees must be bare and have either one city brush tie or one city yard waste sticker attached and visible, which can be purchased at most grocery, discount and hardware stores in Dubuque, as well as City Hall. Trees of any height are accepted, but larger trees must be cut into segments of 5 feet or shorter.

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