jddk

Where to dispose of your Christmas tree after the holidays in Paris?

undefined undefined 3 janvier 2025 undefined 20h00

The Editor

© Anna Zelena - Shutterstock

Every year, after the end-of-year holidays, the city sets up more than 180 collection points to get rid of your Christmas tree. The tree is then shredded and used to protect plants in green spaces. Here’s how to adopt this simple and eco-friendly gesture. 

Star toppers, Christmas balls, garlands, nativity scenes… When the New Year shines, all these beautiful and symbolic decorations go back into the cupboard, and our living room loses a bit of its charm. What’s a Christmas tree without its attributes ? Don’t let that sad, faded little tree dwell forlornly in your home: it’s time to put it away, back in its spot, before finding its worthy heir in 12 short months. Here are the collection spots set up by the City to help you responsibly say goodbye to it. 


181 collection points scattered across Paris 

It's impossible to list every collection point since they are numerous: they're spread throughout the entire central Paris, with at least two locations per district. The easiest way to find them is to use the interactive map created by the city of Paris, which shows every space - usually gardens or squares - where you can drop off your Christmas tree. 

A few basic conditions: trees with or without roots are accepted, but they must show no decorations, no paint or snow-like flocking, no bags, stands, or metal supports. Basically, a fully stripped-down Christmas tree!

© Ville de Paris


A simple and eco-friendly approach 

We know that parting with your Christmas tree, especially too quickly, can be a bit of a downer. Winter becomes way less fun without the festivities, decorations, lights, champagne, and little treats: it’s just cold, and that’s it. To cheer you up, see how this act of kindness can benefit the environment: once collected, the tree is recycled by the city’s gardeners. Sensitive souls beware: your beloved tree will be shredded on site and turned into mulch. The remains are then spread at the base of flower beds or on the paths, helping to ecologically reduce the growth of weeds and limit the spread of wild plants.Evaporation of water and fostering the development of underground microorganisms that enhance soil life.

Attention: for personal use, it's important to know that pine mulch is particularly acidic, and therefore not suitable for compost use. However, its anti-germinative properties are perfect for limiting the spread of wild weeds in an eco-friendly way. It thus acts as a natural weed killer.


Organized collection until January 20... and beyond?

So, are you ready to part with your dear friend? Last year, out of the 174 collection points established, 110,470 Christmas trees were harvested, allowing for the creation of 2,500m3 of chips. However, we don’t want to rush you: you have until January 20 to take it to the collection points.

Good to know: the more nostalgic - and nature-loving - among you can go beyond the deadline and keep your shrub cozy at your discretion, as the tree brigade hasn’t been deployed yet. The town hall clarifies that it’s enough to put the tree out at the same time as your green-lid "general waste" bins to have it recycled, making sure to cut it in half if it’s over 2.50 m tall. As a reminder, throwing a tree into the wild, especially in the forest, can lead to a fine of up to 1,500 euros.