Regular Monday pickups on Christmas and New Years will be pushed back a day. Keep holiday trees off streets and sidewalks by knowing rules for compost and using Transfer Station. Remember to remove all decorations and lights.
Residents and merchants who have regular refuse, recycling, and compost collection on Mondays will have their pickups one day later after Christmas and New Year's days.
Ensure that your carts are curbside by 7:00 am, but please be advised that collection may occur later in the day than usual. If your collection is more than one day behind schedule, call (510) 981-7270 to report a missed pickup.
When you're ready to dispose of your holiday tree, you can cut it up and place it in your bin for curbside pickup or drop it off whole at the City's Transfer Station. Whichever method you choose, remember to remove all lights, decorations, tinsel, plastic bags, and plastic tree stands first.
Help keep Berkeley clean by keeping discarded trees off our streets and sidewalks.
Prep your tree for curbside collection
Cut your tree up for curbside collection so it fits into your green compost cart with the lid closed.
Whole trees will not be picked up if left on the curb, as they can damage the City's collection trucks. Cut trees to fit into your green plant debris bin with a closed lid.
Flocked or "snow-covered" trees are not compostable. If you have a flocked tree, cut it up and treat it like a plastic tree: place it in your gray refuse cart.
If you don't have tools to cut your tree, try free tool rental:
Berkeley Tool Lending Library
1901 Russell Street (at MLK)
Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday, Thursday, 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Only Berkeley residents or property owners over age 18 may borrow tools.
Drop off whole trees at the Transfer Station
The Transfer Station will take compostable trees for free through the end of January. Starting February 1, the cost returns to the regular fee of $30.75, for disposal of up to 330lbs of plant debris and organic matter.
Disposal fees for flocked or plastic trees are $42.
Berkeley Transfer Station
1201 2nd Street (off Gilman)
Open Monday - Saturday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Closed on New Year's Day
Help keep our streets and sidewalks clean by using your refuse and compost carts properly.