HAMILTON, N.J. – As the holiday season winds down, Mercer County residents are turning their attention to post-Christmas cleanup, with local municipalities launching tree recycling and collection programs through January. The initiative, coinciding with the early days of the new year, encourages residents to dispose of their natural Christmas trees responsibly, keeping them out of landfills and turning them into mulch or compost for community use.
Across Mercer County, most towns offer curbside pickup or drop-off options beginning this week and continuing through late January. West Windsor Township began collections on December 26 and will continue through January 20, with residents also able to bring trees to the Public Works drop-off site on Southfield Road, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.
In Hamilton Township, curbside pickup runs throughout the month, and residents can also deliver trees to the Ecological Facility on Kuser Road, open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Hopewell Township offers curbside collection through January, with residents asked to have undecorated trees at the curb by January 11. Lawrence Township’s Public Works Department is also collecting trees during January as part of its annual recycling effort.
County officials emphasize that residents must remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, stands, and nails before setting trees out for pickup or drop-off. Trees should never be placed in plastic bags unless specifically required for flocked trees, as most municipalities will not collect bagged or artificial trees.
Artificial or heavily flocked trees are typically excluded from recycling programs and may need to be disposed of with regular household waste, depending on township rules. Residents are urged to check their town’s Public Works or recycling webpage for precise dates, restrictions, and facility hours.
Mercer County townships are collecting natural Christmas trees through January, offering both curbside and drop-off options to promote eco-friendly holiday cleanup.