It's a conundrum that comes once a year; how do you get rid of a Christmas tree? And as the Twelfth Night approaches, here is all the information you need to know about Christmas tree collection in Surrey.

Across the county there are slightly different rules on how to dispose of your Christmas tree, so it is important to get the details for where you live. Also bear in mind that some of these rules may have changed from last year and what you have done previously.

Take note that these rules cover real Christmas trees only. Anyone wanting to get rid of an artificial tree will need to look at recycling and tip information in their area.

Rules for each Surrey area

Elmbridge

Households that are garden waste subscribers can recycle their Christmas trees in the brown bin. It is important to remove all decorations and lights, and chop it up into smaller pieces before placing it in the bin. Trees can also be taken to your local community recycling centre (CRC).

Christmas trees can also be recycled through the Princess Alice Hospice. Collections start from Wednesday, January 8 for a minimum donation of £20. For more information please visit the Princess Alice Hospice website.

Meanwhile, the 1st Weston Green Scouts are also running their volunteer Charity Christmas Tree Collection in Elmbridge. For £10 (£15 for a large tree) they can collect and recycle trees from Esher, Molesey, Thames Ditton, Hinchley Wood, and Molesey. To book, visit the Collect My Tree website.

Epsom and Ewell

In January, Epsom and Ewell council will offer free real Christmas tree recycling for all residents. This will be done fortnightly and residents should check the Christmas bin label for details for when real Christmas tree collections happen in your road.

It is important to remove all decorations and leave your Christmas tree next to your bins on recycling day. Here you are asked not to cut up your tree as it is easier to collect whole.

Lots of Christmas Trees
It is nearly time to tidy up your Christmas Trees

Guildford

If you subscribe to Guildford’s garden waste service, you can chop up your tree and put it into your garden waste bin. If you do not have a garden waste subscription you can take your real Christmas tree to be recycled from a number of sites across the borough.

These are listed here.

Mole Valley

Garden Waste subscribers can cut up and recycle their Christmas trees and have it collected as part of their garden waste service. However, the lid of the bin must be able to close for the crew to collect it.

Trees can also be dropped off for recycling at Community Recycling Centres across Mole Valley, or left for collection at the following car parks between January 1 to January 20:

  • Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall;

  • Lower Road, Bookham;

  • Reigate Road, Dorking;

  • Ockley Village Hall.

Reigate and Banstead

Garden waste service members can recycle their Christmas tree along with their usual garden waste collection once the service resumes from Monday, January 13. It is important to remove all decorations.

Alternatively you can take your old Christmas tree to your local Community Recycling Centre.

Runnymede

Trees can be recycled at local recycling centres or cut up and put into garden waste bins.

Christmas Trees piled up
Christmas Trees piled up

Surrey Heath

There is no longer a free Christmas tree recycling service from car parks. Residents are still able to recycle Christmas trees at their local Community Recycling Centre. Those who subscribe to the garden waste scheme can also cut up their tree and place it in their garden waste bin for collection.

Spelthorne

Christmas trees will be collected from January 6-17. It is important to remove the decorations and base, and leave the tree out with the bin.

Trees can also be dropped off at the following points from January 1:

  • Fordbridge Park, Ashford;

  • Manor Park, Shepperton;

  • Old Bathing Station, Fordbridge Road, Sunbury-on-Thames.

Tandridge

Green Waste Club members can cut up their trees (maximum tree trunk 10cm diameter) and put it in the brown wheeled bin. It is important that the lid is closed.

Those who are not Green Waste Club members, should take their trees to either the Warlingham Community Recycling Centre (CRC) or Caterham CRC. You can also cut it up and put it in a compost bin.

Waverley

You can recycle your Christmas tree at one of the drop-off points below from now until January 17:

  • Woolmer Hill Sports Ground;

  • High Lane Recreation Ground;

  • Village Way Car Park, Cranleigh (by basketball hoop);

  • Haslemere Recreation Ground;

  • Holloway Hill Recreation Ground;

  • Nursery Road Car Park, Broadwater Park;

  • Wrecclesham Recreation Ground;

  • Rowledge Recreation Ground;

  • Weybourne Recreation Ground;

  • Farnham Park.

Woking

Garden waste subscribers can recycle their real Christmas trees in their kerbside collection. It is important to remove decorations and lights, chop it into smaller pieces and place in your garden waste bin.

Trees can also be taken to Woking’s community recycling centre (CRC) at Martyr’s Lane.