Where to place real Christmas trees, holiday waste in Calgary

The City of Calgary is asking residents to give their Christmas tree a “second life” by composting it, and to sort their waste made this holiday season.

Around 25 per cent more waste is generated during the holidays, and around 80,000 trees are thrown in the trash every year, according to the city.

Aidan Fernandes, the city’s waste diversion specialist, says, “Holiday waste often ends up in the wrong place.”

“Items like Christmas lights, ribbons and electrical cords are hazards that can cause serious damage when tossed in blue carts. They tangle in sorting equipment, disrupt collection services and put workers at risk,” he said in a news release.

The city explains hazardous items, such as batteries and electronics, end up in the wrong carts, and that lithium-ion batteries, like ones found in phones, laptops and vape devices, can catch fire if not disposed of properly.

According to officials, there have been over 75 fires at waste and recycling facilities caused by improper battery disposal.

Meanwhile, food scraps and Christmas trees contribute the most to holiday waste, which can be prevented by composting them.

Christmas tree composting

When it comes to Christmas trees, one composting option is to use a green cart.

Before doing so, the city asks you to remove all lights, tinsel, and ornaments, and cut your tree into small pieces before placing it in the green cart and closing the lid completely.

If the cart is full, paper yard waste bags with the roll tops closed can be used. All the city asks is to set them about half a meter or two feet from the side of the green cart.

The second option is to head to one of 13 temporary Christmas tree drop-off locations, which are available until Jan. 31.

Those locations are the following:

• Auburn Bay Off-Leash Area: 52 Street and Auburn Bay Drive SE.
• Bottomlands Park: Saint George’s Drive and 7 Avenue NE (soccer field parking lot).
• Bowness: 7937 43 Avenue NW (in lot behind building).
• Braeside Park: 256 Brookpark Drive SW.
• Confederation Park: 905 30 Avenue NW (east parking lot).
• Huntington Hills Athletic Park: 7920 4 Street NE.
• IKEA: 8000 11 Street SE (northwest corner of parking lot behind store).
• Marda Loop Communities Association: 3130 16 Street SW.
• North Glenmore Park:  6615 37 Street SW (Weaselhead parking lot).
• Park 96: 14660 Parkland Boulevard SE.
• Pop Davies / Ogden Athletic Park: Ogden Road and Millican Road SE.
• Prairie Winds Park: 44 Street and 54 Avenue NE (south parking lot).
• Sacramento Parks Depot: 10400 Sacramento Drive SW.

Before dropping them off, the city also asks you to remove all ornaments, lights, garland, tinsel, and tree stands, and not to wrap the tree.

Additionally, Calgary landfills and Eco Centre locations will take them for free until Jan. 31.

More information on Christmas tree composting is on the City of Calgary website.

Where to place additional waste

When it comes to other kinds of holiday waste, the city has a reminder on which cart to place them.

Blue carts are for wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, paper gift bags (remove handles), bubble wrap, tin cans, glass jars and plastic containers.

Green carts are for plate scrapings, turkey bones, fruit peels, vegetable skins, food-soiled paper and chopped-up Christmas trees.

Lastly, black carts are intended for non-recyclable gift wrap (foil, metallic), ribbon, broken decorations, burned-out holiday lights and foam packaging.

When it comes to batteries, battery-containing devices, and other electronic devices, City Eco Centres can take them for safe recycling. More information on these centres can be found online here.

Regular Thursday pickup is happening on Monday because it’s not available on Jan. 1, 2026, which is a Thursday. It is expected to resume on Jan. 8.

You can also find more information on holiday waste here.