Trussville tree — Live tree or fake tree? (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

Well, it’s that time of year again–you got a live Christmas tree and now you have to figure out what to do with it before the needles start to fall. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered.

Keep reading to learn more about tree repurposing and where to drop off your tree in Birmingham.

Don’t waste your tree–reuse it

Before you drop off your tree, consider reusing your tree. Here are some sustainable ways you can repurpose your tree before disposal:

Create your own mulch
Create fresheners from pine needles
Make firewood
Make compost
Insulate your garden

If you plan to drop off your tree, make sure to do it sooner rather than later. The more dry a tree gets, it can become a fire hazard.

Birmingham Zoo drop-off

zoo — The Birmingham Zoo has been Birmingham’s premier tree drop-off location for decades. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

Every year, the City of Mountain Brook and the Birmingham Zoo host a Christmas tree recycling event. From December 26 to January 9, take your tree and follow the signs to the designated tree drop zone.

Hours: 9AM-4PM
Location: 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223

City of Homewood

From December 26 to January 8, take your tree to the corner parking lot at Dale Avenue and Grace Street to be recycled into mulch that will be used for paths at the Homewood City School’s Community Garden.

If you are a Homewood resident, you can skip the drop off–Christmas tree removal is included in your waste removal service. Make sure trees are free of all decorations including ornaments, lights, wreaths and garland before putting them out for pick-up.

Hours: 8AM-8PM
Location: Dale Avenue and Grace Street, Homewood, AL 35209

Vestavia Hills drop-off

Drop off your natural, decoration-free trees at Scout Square (The Christmas Tree Lot) right off of Montgomery Highway. Donated trees are used by Alabama Power to create fish habitats in local waters.