The short answer
Some LA County cities and haulers collect real Christmas trees after the holidays; Lakewood and Torrance even pause regular bulky pickups while tree collection runs. Strip off the stand, lights and decorations first, and check the rules for flocked trees. Outside the collection window, use a bulky or green waste pickup, take it to a green waste drop-off, or add it to a yard waste haul.
Want it handled for you? See our yard waste removal service.
1. Use your city's post-holiday tree collection
Holiday tree collection is run city by city, and the details are set by your city or hauler. The official pages we checked mention it mostly in passing:
- Rolling Hills Estates (WM): holiday trees are collected at no charge for three weeks after December 25.
- Lakewood (EDCO): regular bulky pickups pause after Christmas while tree recycling runs.
- Torrance: its Large Item Pick Up program pauses during Christmas tree collection.
- Monterey Park (Ware Disposal): flocked or fire-retardant-treated Christmas trees are not accepted.
More on this: Lakewood bulky pickup · Torrance Large Item Pick Up · Monterey Park bulky pickup · Rolling Hills Estates trash and bulky pickup
Sources: WM: Rolling Hills Estates Welcome Packet; City of Lakewood: Bulky Item Pickup; City of Torrance: Large Item Pick Up; City of Monterey Park: Bulky Item Pickup, checked Nov 2026
If you miss collection: use a bulky or green waste pickup
Most program pages don't spell out holiday tree rules, so check your city's or hauler's website for the collection window. If it has passed, a tree can go out like other yard waste where your program allows it:
- City of Los Angeles (LASAN): unlimited free bulky pickups for homes on City service. Book through MyLA311 at least one business day before trash day.
- Downey: bundled yard trimmings up to 4 ft long and 2 ft across, so cut the tree into sections.
- Culver City: trimmings bundled no thicker than 4 inches and no longer than 5 ft.
- Santa Ana (Republic Services): a pickup can be twenty 30-gallon bags of yard waste instead of large items.
- Unincorporated OC communities such as Ladera Ranch and North Tustin: 2 free bulky pickups a year of up to 4 items each. Ask how a tree is counted when you book.
More on this: bulky and green waste pickup rules by city · Ladera Ranch bulky pickup
Sources: LA Sanitation & Environment: Schedule a Bulky Item Pickup; City of Downey: Bulky Item Pick-ups; City of Culver City: Bulky Items; City of Santa Ana: Bulky Item Pickup; OC Waste & Recycling: Waste Haulers for Unincorporated Areas, checked Nov 2026
2. Drop it at a green waste site
A bare tree with no stand, tinsel or ornaments is clean green waste. Sites whose pages list green waste:
- Scholl Canyon Landfill, Glendale: green waste from its wasteshed only, including Pasadena, Glendale, South Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre, La Cañada Flintridge and Altadena. Closed Sundays and major holidays.
- Sunshine Canyon Landfill, Sylmar: clean green waste including tree clippings and brush.
- Athens Irwindale MRF, DART in Downey and Puente Hills MRF: list green waste and take self-haul loads.
- Crown Recycling Services in Sun Valley takes organic and green waste and is open Sundays.
- Republic Services Huntington Beach Transfer Station: landscape debris and green waste from self-haul customers.
More on this: yard waste drop-off sites · Crown Recycling Services
Sources: LA County Sanitation Districts: Scholl Canyon Landfill; Sunshine Canyon Landfill: Drop-Off Information; Athens Services: Irwindale MRF; Athens Services: DART; LA County Sanitation Districts: Puente Hills MRF; Athens Services: Crown Recycling Services; City of Huntington Beach: Trash & Recycling, checked Nov 2026
3. Artificial trees: donate, give away or bulky pickup
An artificial tree isn't green waste. If it's in good shape with all its pieces, offer it to a donation center that takes holiday decor or list it free in January. If it's broken or shedding, it's a regular bulky item: box it or bundle it and book a pickup. Pre-lit trees have wiring, so ask your hauler whether they treat them as e-waste.
4. Hire a hauler for the tree and the rest
A dry tree drops needles all through the house on the way out. Roa Solution Junk Removal carries it out, along with the boxes, broken decorations and anything else left from the holidays, and cleans up after. We also haul branches, trimmings and green waste year-round. Pricing starts at $190, and same-day or next-day pickup depends on availability. Text a photo to (562) 219-9266.
More on this: our yard waste removal service
What it usually costs
City tree collection is free where it's offered, and bulky pickups are free within your allowance. Drop-off sites charge by weight, often with a minimum. One tree still meets our $190 starting minimum, so a hauler makes the most sense when the tree goes with other post-holiday or yard junk.
More on this: how our pricing works
Sources
- WM: Rolling Hills Estates Welcome Packet
- City of Lakewood: Bulky Item Pickup
- City of Torrance: Large Item Pick Up
- City of Monterey Park: Bulky Item Pickup
- LA Sanitation & Environment: Schedule a Bulky Item Pickup
- City of Downey: Bulky Item Pick-ups
- City of Culver City: Bulky Items
- City of Santa Ana: Bulky Item Pickup
- OC Waste & Recycling: Waste Haulers for Unincorporated Areas
- LA County Sanitation Districts: Scholl Canyon Landfill
- Sunshine Canyon Landfill: Drop-Off Information
- Athens Services: Irwindale MRF
- Athens Services: DART
- LA County Sanitation Districts: Puente Hills MRF
- Athens Services: Crown Recycling Services
- City of Huntington Beach: Trash & Recycling
Rules change. Check the city or county page before you rely on a limit, fee or date.