The Lake County Forest Preserve District has had a Christmas tree recycling program for over 20 years and it is available to you now. Trees can be dropped off at any of eight locations. Instead of your beloved tree finding its way into a landfill, it can be useful for the forest preserves in the form of wood chips for trails.
The drop off locations are:
Grant Woods in Ingleside
Greenbelt in North Chicago
Half Day in Vernon Hills
Heron Creek in Long Grove
Lakewood in Wauconda *new location south of Ivanhoe Road near Heron Pond*
Old School in Mettawa
Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods
Van Patten Woods in Wadsworth
“Taking your tree to the closest Forest Preserve drop-off location is a wonderful way to support your preserves,” said LCFP Board President Jessica Vealitzek.
Locations are open daily from 6:30 am to sunset through February 1, 2025