How To Dispose Of Your Christmas Tree In Rhode Island: 2020

When the holidays are over, many Rhode Islanders are left with a full sized, real Christmas tree in their living rooms, which raises the question: what to do with it?

Fortunately, most Rhode Island communities have programs in place to dispose of real Christmas trees. Rhode Island Resource Recovery reminds residents to always remove everything from trees prior to disposal, including lights, ornaments, tinsel and the stand. The same rules apply to wreaths, along with ribbons and the metal frame.

Once again, the Department of Environmental Management is collecting Christmas trees for their Trees for Trout program. The department uses the recycled trees to improve habitat for wild trout and other aquatic organisms by placing them in streams and rivers. The trees will help reduce erosion, offer refuge habitats and stabilize stream banks. Rhode Islanders can drop off their trees on Jan. 2 or 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arcadia Check Station on Ten Rod Road in Exeter. No artificial trees, trees with tinsel or trees that have been treated with fire retardant will be accepted.

Most towns have their own programs for tree pickups or drop-offs. A list of communities with Christmas tree programs is below, from RIRRC.

• Barrington
• Bristol
• Burrillville
• Central Falls
• Charlestown
• Coventry
• Cranston
• Cumberland
• East Greenwich
• East Providence
• Exeter
• Glocester
• Hopkinton
• Jamestown
• Johnston
• Lincoln
• Little Compton
• Middletown
• Narragansett
• New Shoreham
• Newport
• North Kingstown
• North Providence
• North Smithfield
• Pawtucket
• Portsmouth
• Providence
• Richmond
• Smithfield
• South Kingstown
• Tiverton
• Warren
• Warwick
• West Greenwich
• West Warwick
• Westerly
• Woonsocket

Christmas in Rhode Island: Read more

• Rhode Islanders Asked To Celebrate Christmas At Home
• What's Open, Closed In Rhode Island On Christmas Day 2020
• Christmas 2020: Grocery Store Hours In Rhode Island