TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — For those that celebrate the holidays with a live tree in the Wabash Valley, a list of tree recycling drop-off locations for the area has been compiled for this year.
The task of keeping a tree alive throughout the holiday and then finding a proper place for disposal can sometimes be a challenge. For more ideas, information, and tips on how to reduce waste this holiday season, visit the Indiana Department of Environmental Management Holiday Recycling webpage.
According to Sean Sluyter, the Vigo County Parks and Rec Natural Resource Programmer, the trees that are dropped off will be used for aquatic habitats in the Vigo County lakes. Some other counties will also recycle the trees for aquatic habitats or process the trees and make mulch that will be used later on.
This list is not exhaustive and is subject to update.
- Clark County, Ill: Clark County will be accepting trees for disposal and recycling at Mill Creek Park. Residents are welcome to drop off their trees at any time. The trees will be used for the aquatic habitats in the county. Please be sure to remove all decorations, lights, garland, and plastic bags from the tree before disposal.
- Drop off location: Mill Creek Park overflow parking lot at the boat ramp
- Dates: Anytime
- Contact: 217-889-3901
- Edgar County, Ill: Residents of Edgar County can leave their trees out on the curbs near their homes to be picked up. The trees will eventually be recycled into mulch. Please be sure to remove all decorations, lights, garland, and plastic bags from the tree before disposal.
- Drop off location: Curb near personal residence
- Dates: Until the end of Jan
- Contact: 217-465-7601
- Knox County: Knox County will be accepting recycled Christmas trees throughout the season. To drop off your tree for recycling, call the Parks and Rec office to get inside the gate. The county will use the trees for the Wabash. Please be sure to remove all decorations, lights, garland, and plastic bags from the tree before disposal.
- Drop off location: Wabash Trails Park
- Dates: Anytime
- Contact: 812-882-4316
- Parke County, Ind.: Trees can be dropped off at Raccoon Lake for Parke County residents. The tree recycling program is free, and anyone who would like to use the trees for their own ponds, or lakes, or to stop erosion on their property can contact the park officials for further details. Please be sure to remove all decorations, lights, garland, and plastic bags from the tree before disposal. Only organic compostable trees, wreaths, and branches will be accepted.
- Drop off location: Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area, 9 miles east of Rockville on Highway 36. The large parking lot just inside and past the gatehouse, the first left turn. Follow the green arrows for further help.
- Dates: Dec. 26 – Last Saturday in Jan (1/28/23)
- Contact: 765-344-1412
- Sullivan County, Ind: Sullivan County is collecting trees in Shelbyville and Sullivan this year. Please be sure to remove all decorations, lights, garland, and plastic bags from the tree before disposal. No other yard waste (tree trimmings, wreaths, flowers, etc.) will be accepted.
- Drop off location:
- Sullivan: 66 Gas Station, located south of town on route 32. Trees can be dropped off inside the fenced area on the north side of the building.
- Shelbyville: Johnstowne Mall on the west side of Shelbyville is the designated collection site. People can place trees inside the fenced area on the grass at the northwest corner of the parking lot.
- Dates: Dec. 27 – Feb. 20
- Contact: 217-774-3951, ext. 7001
- Drop off location:
- Vigo County, Ind: People can drop off their trees at Hawthorne Park and at Fowler Park. While at Fowler Park, they can be dropped off at the beach parking lot, and at Hawthorne they can be dropped off at the boat ramp parking lot. Please be sure to remove all decorations, lights, garland, and plastic bags from the tree before disposal.
- Drop off location: Fowler Park beach parking lot / Hawthorne Park boat ramp parking lot
- Dates: Dec. 27 – Jan. 7, parks are open from dawn til dusk
- Contact: 812-462-3391
A similar list for more counties in Illinois can be found here.
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