What to do with the tree now that the holidays are over?

OSHKOSH, WI—(WISS)— The holidays are officially over. Some have already taken down their Christmas trees. Others are waiting for Epiphany, which is today (January 6, 2026). Now the question becomes what to do with your discarded natural Christmas tree. 

Check with your local municipality for waste pickup times and schedules. For most cities, waste pick up will be either this week or next.

Oshkosh

In Oshkosh, residential curbside Christmas tree collection will take place as part of regular garbage collection this week (Jan. 5-9, 2026) and the week after next (Jan. 19-23).

Trees must be natural and unflocked. All decorations, lights, and stands must be removed. No plastic bags are allowed.

The Oshkosh Sanitation Department recommends placing any wreaths, garland or swags that have metal frames and any artificial trees in garbage carts. Residents can also drop off holiday waste at the city’s Yard Waste Dropoff Site from 7 am until 3 pm Monday through Friday.

Appleton 

In Appleton, curbside Christmas tree collection is scheduled for next week (Jan. 12-16, 2026). Residents in Appleton should have their trees curbside by Sunday, January 11th. Remove decorations, lights, and plastic bags from the tree before placed on the curb. In the event of snow, the City of Appleton asks residents to make sure trees to be collected are unburied.

In addition to regular curbside collection of discarded natural trees, Appleon is offering its “Tree for a Tree” campaign this year. Residents can bring their discarded natural tree to the Glendale Yard Waste Site between now and January 23, 2026. In exchange for the discarded tree, residents of Appleton will get a coupon, redeemable in April, for a white spruce seedling.

Bubolz

If you’d rather donate your old tree , Bubolz Nature Preserve will take your trees. Strip trees of all lights and decorations. Trees must be natural trees. 

The nature preserve will use the trees in the Winter Survival programs. They can be dropped off to the left of the lodge parking lot.

NEW Zoo & Adventure Park 

The NEW Zoo & Adventure Park in Green Bay is also accepting discarded holiday trees. The trees must be free of all flocking, tinsel, decorations, and lights. The zoo will use the trees for animal enrichment throughout the park.