Seasonal disposal Christmas tree pickup and drop-off in the Charleston area

Where your tree goes, by town

Only a few local governments publish a Christmas tree page. Here is what each one says as of November 11, 2026. Most towns post this season's dates after Christmas.

City of Charleston: curbside composting

The City collects real trees at the curb and composts them. Last season the free collection ran from January 5 through February 9, 2026, on each home's scheduled yard debris day. The dates for this season weren't up when we checked, so look at the City's Christmas tree composting page after the holiday.

The City's rules:

• Real trees, wreaths and garlands only. They have to be completely clean: no lights, ornaments, tinsel, metal or plastic ties, or wreath frames.
• Small pieces go in paper yard debris bags. That covers wreaths and loose greenery.
• Keep the pile separate. Don't stack the tree with trash or with an artificial tree.
• Artificial trees go out with regular trash.

Summerville, North Charleston and Dorchester County

Dorchester County's Christmas tree page covers three options.

• Summerville residents can set a tree out on their regular yard debris day.
• North Charleston residents inside city limits can do the same. Put it near the right-of-way, not in the street, and don't block hydrants, mailboxes or driveways.
• Any county resident can take a tree to the Miles Road Convenience Site at 130 Suburban Lane in Summerville or the Sandy Pines Convenience Site at 374 Sandy Pines Lane in Dorchester.

Remove all lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails and stands, plus any decoration that isn't organic. The county also says not to burn the tree in a fireplace or wood stove.

Dorchester County's convenience sites close on Christmas and New Year's Day and are normally closed Wednesdays and Sundays. The tree page and the county's main page list different hours for these two sites, so check the hours before you drive over. Our Dorchester County drop-off guide has the details.

Last season the Town of Summerville ran its own drop-off at Gahagan Park, 515 W. Boundary St., from December 27, 2025 to January 3, 2026, and chipped the trees into mulch for town public spaces. This season's dates weren't posted when we checked.

Towns with no tree page

Most other towns treat natural material as yard debris, and each has size limits for limbs. None of them says in writing that a whole Christmas tree counts, so call before you set one out. If your town tells you to cut it up, these are the posted yard debris limits:

Goose Creek doesn't pick up yard debris on its shifted holiday collection days, so a tree set out Christmas week will sit. Our yard debris guide has each town's full rules.

How to prep the tree

1. Take off every light strand, ornament and hook. Check the inside branches, where hooks hide.
2. Pull the tinsel and any wire or plastic ties.
3. Remove the stand and any nails or screws in the trunk.
4. Skip the plastic tree bag at the curb. Carry the tree out in it if you like, then take the bag off.
5. Set the tree at the curb the night before your yard debris day, clear of the street, mailbox and hydrant.

Pro tip lay an old sheet under the tree before you take it out and drag it to the door on that. You'll leave far fewer needles in the house.

If you're clearing out more than the tree

The week after Christmas is when a lot of old furniture, boxes and broken decorations pile up next to the tree. Curbside crews are on holiday schedules then, so see our Christmas and New Year's pickup schedule before you put anything big at the curb.

Frequently asked questions