After the holidays, many people have the same question: What should I do with my Christmas tree? Prague’s municipal services offer environmentally friendly tips for proper disposal. By following a few simple rules, old trees can be recycled in an eco-friendly way—whether as compost or renewable energy.
Prague Services provides guidance on the correct disposal of Christmas trees once the festive season is over. The rules are straightforward: clean trees, completely stripped of decorations and ornaments, can be transformed into wood chips or compost. However, they must not be thrown into rubbish bins, as they do not belong there.
Christmas trees should be disposed of responsibly, ideally at public collection centres. “This applies to everyone, especially residents of apartment blocks or single-family homes with bins located in yards or within buildings,” explains Alexandr Komarnický, spokesperson for Prague Services. He adds, “We urge citizens not to throw this symbol of Christmas into bins but to place it next to them instead.”
The nearest public waste collection points can be easily located using the online map at odpady.mojepraha.eu. However, since some areas in Prague lack coloured containers on the streets, alternative solutions are necessary. The easiest option is to place Christmas trees next to publicly accessible black bins. “Nothing has changed here. Long-term residents are familiar with this process, but it’s worth explaining again for newcomers to Prague,” Komarnický notes.
Alternatively, Christmas trees can be taken directly to composting plants or collection centres. Detailed information about their locations, opening hours, usage rules, and accepted waste types is available on the city’s website at praha.eu. Artificial Christmas trees, which also should not be placed in rubbish bins, can also be dropped off at these collection centres.
The first major wave of Christmas tree disposal is expected after Epiphany. Between January 7 and the end of February, hundreds of thousands of trees are expected to be discarded. Last year, approximately 319 tonnes of Christmas trees were collected in Prague. This year, the trees will again be picked up by specially equipped refuse lorries, sometimes supplemented by smaller vehicles. Once collected, the cleaned trees are transported to composting plants, where they are turned into wood chips or compost. Trees that are contaminated or improperly disposed of will be used to generate light and heat for Prague households.
The city also urges residents not to dispose of Christmas trees in the countryside. “Please do not leave trees in forests or parks—forgotten Christmas decorations could harm wildlife,” warns Jana Komrsková, Deputy Mayor for the Environment.
