Waste/Recycling

Unusable holiday lights can be recycled at the Transfer Station (1524 State Street) free of charge.

Christmas trees will only be picked up by appointment from December 27, 2021–January 31, 2022.

Clean and Safe Christmas Tree Disposal

Clean trees do not have ornaments, tinsel, flocking, or attached tree stands. Clean trees are considered yard waste and may be brought to the Transfer Station on Mondays for a $0.75 disposal fee. For curbside collection, trees should be cut into sections no longer than 4' and have a Cedar Falls Christmas tree tag attached. All plastic bags must be removed. Appointments for a Monday curbside pickup can be made by calling the Public Works Department at 319-273-8629. Unclean trees have flocked limbs or are heavily tinseled. These trees are considered garbage and may be brought to the Transfer Station from Tuesday–Saturday for a $0.75 disposal fee. For curbside collection, trees should be cut into sections no longer than 4' and have a Cedar Falls Christmas tree tag attached. Place the tree at curbside on your normal garbage pickup day and make an appointment for pick up by calling 319-273-8629.

Christmas tree tags are $1.25 and available at:

Ace Hardware, 703 E. 18th Street Fareway Grocery, 214 Magnolia Drive Fareway Grocery, 4500 S. Main Street Hy-Vee, 6301 University Avenue Transfer Station, 1524 State Street

You can also compost your Christmas tree as well.

Do not burn your tree. Burning a Christmas tree is not an approved recreational type fire. A dried out tree will burn rapidly, produce a much hotter flame, create sparks, and can be difficult to control.

Thank you for disposing of your tree safely!

Gift Wrapping Paper

Wrapping paper is not accepted for recycling at any Cedar Falls location. The materials in some wrapping paper is not accepted for recycling. • Wrapping paper is often dyed, laminated, and/or contains non-paper additives such as gold and silver colored shapes, glitter, plastics, etc. which cannot be recycled. • Some wrapping paper is very thin and contains few good quality fibers for recycling. • A lot of wrapping paper has tape attached which makes it very difficult to recycle. Be creative with gift wrapping! Consider upcycling newspapers, magazines, maps, fabric, and more into gift wrap. Reuse gift wrap and bags you’ve received.