Cutting Christmas tree collection to save Edmonton $120K each year

The city will no longer pick up real Christmas trees. Council heard cutting the program would save about $120,000 per year.

The City of Edmonton is cutting out its Christmas tree collection service.

On Friday, city councillors voted to stop the program in response to a report showing the number of homes setting out trees has dropped dramatically in the past decade – and that nixing the program would save $120,000 annually.

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The report showed the number of trees collected dropped 51 per cent between 2015 and 2025, with crews driving 8,974 kilometres to pick up trees from just 2.4 per cent of eligible homes this year.

Because tree collection is done separate from other collections, it adds overtime labour and fuel costs to the budget; that money, the report said, will be reinvested into waste operations.

Edmontonians without curbside pickup, such as those in apartment buildings, already have to drop their own trees off at a recycling depot or eco station each year.

There are 19 Community Recycling Depots and four Eco Stations where trees can be dropped off as early as Dec. 27. The city said twigs and branches can be cut up and placed in green bins and whole trees can be kept and mulched for home use.

WildNorth Animal rescue also takes donations of natural trees each year.

The report said anyone with assisted waste collection will still have their trees picked up as part of regular services.

A communications plan to inform residents of the change will be launched before the 2025-26 holiday season through the City’s website, WasteWise, 311 and social media.

The city had been picking up trees curbside since 1990.