Christmas tree recycling schedules in the area are announced
By Dan Thesman on Friday, December 26th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – As the holiday season draws to a close, promptly taking down and recycling a live Christmas tree is a vital step in preventing fire hazards and giving the tree a second life like nutrient-rich mulch or a wildlife habitat.
In Milton-Freewater, city crews will be picking up fresh cut Christmas trees placed along the curb within these dates: Jan. 5-7.
All lights, stands and decorations must be removed prior to trees being picked up. Trees put out after Jan. 5-7 in Milton-Freewater may incur a fee for pick up. The city asks for trees not be placed in garbage cans. Any fresh cut trees that need to be recycled after Jan. 7, can be taken to the County Road recycle depot through Jan. 9. Artificial Christmas trees and Christmas lights can also be recycled at the County Road recycle depot in Milton-Freewater.
In the College Place and Walla Walla areas, the Scouting of America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) Troop 305 and Troop 336 will be conducting their annual Christmas tree pick up the weekend of Jan. 10-11.
The scouts will systematically work every street in the area, but due to the large area and the number of trees to be picked up, they cannot accept appointments. Trees should be left near the curb or as close to the front of the property as possible, no later than 7 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10. If a tree has not been picked up by 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11, send an e-mail with the location to wwtroop305@gmail.com.
While the collection is free, donations are accepted and are pooled between all the girls and boys working to be used for summer camp, scouting equipment, and uniforms.
The trees collected by the scouts will be used to construct brush piles in the wildlife areas on the east side of Bennington Lake, which attract rabbits and ground nesting birds such as quail and pheasant. The scouts have provided this service to the Walla Walla area for over 40 years.
Photo via Albert Sutlick of scouts recycling live Christmas trees in 2024
