Christmas tree disposal in Bourne, MassachusettsChristmas treepickup inBourne.

What the town says, and doesn't

The curbside carts take household trash and recycling only, and large or bulky items left at the curb are a violation, which in practice rules out a tree. The Residential Recycling Center accepts yard waste, brush and stumps, but no page we found names Christmas trees. We could not find a posted tree drop date or a Bourne rule about tree length. The town has not posted 2027 dates; ask ISWM at 508-759-0600, ext. 4238.

The town's holiday recycling flyer says to remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and garlands before disposal, and that an undecorated tree left outside shelters birds.

Lights, wrapping and the holiday schedule

The flyer asks residents not to put light strings in the recycling cart and to take them to the Residential Recycling Center where there is a special bin. Wrapping paper and ribbon can't be recycled, and broken ornaments go in the trash cart.

The facility's 2026 closures include Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving) and Friday, December 25 (Christmas). Off-season hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 7 am to 3 pm, closed Tuesdays. Curbside moves too: the week of November 9, 2026 shifted Wednesday pickups ahead a day for Veterans Day, and holiday weeks can do the same in winter.

When a tree is part of a bigger clear-out

January often means a tree plus an artificial one, a broken sled, wrapping boxes and the chair that made space for it. JUNKRUN takes it in one visit: boxes and bags $11 each, a quarter trailer ${p:quarter}, a half ${p:half}, with a ${min} minimum. We take a real tree any day, needles and all.

An artificial tree isn't yard waste. Strip the lights and take it to the center only if staff there confirm, or hand it to us.

Bourne tree season, what is known for 2026-27

1. Nov 26, 2026

   ISWM facilities closed (Thanksgiving)

2. Dec 25, 2026

   ISWM facilities closed (Christmas)

3. After Christmas

   Strip lights, ornaments, tinsel; lights go in the center's special bin

4. January 2027

   No tree pickup or drop-off dates posted as of Nov 6, 2026; call 508-759-0600, ext. 4238

Local resources in Bourne

Donation, reuse and recycling options near the pickup. We are not affiliated with these; confirm hours and what they accept before you go.

• Transfer station

  Bourne ISWM Residential Recycling Center

  Accepts: Bulky items, furniture, appliances, TVs and computers, mattresses and box springs, yard waste, brush and stumps, scrap metal, textiles, batteries, waste oil and antifreeze (5 gallons each), paint March 21 to Oct 3, propane tanks up to 20 lbs. No hazardous or business waste.

  Off-season Wed-Sat 7 am-3 pm (Sept 15, 2026 to Memorial Day weekend 2027), closed Tuesdays and legal holidays. 2026 sticker $30. Card or check only. In Bourne itself.

  201 MacArthur Boulevard, Bourne, MA 02532
  508-759-0600 ext. 4238
• Town

  Bourne Department of Public Works

  Accepts: Curbside trash and recycling carts, replacement carts, collection-day questions.

  Monday to Thursday 7 AM-4 PM, Friday 7 AM-noon. Ask here about cart service and curbside holiday schedules.

  35 Ernest Valeri Road, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
  Website for Bourne Department of Public Works508-759-0600 ext. 3

Sources

Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Bourne before you go.

• Town of Bourne: Holiday Recycling Tips (PDF): “remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and garlands beforehand” · accessed November 6, 2026
• Town of Bourne: Holiday Recycling Tips (PDF): “take them to the Residential Recycling Center where there is a special bin” · accessed November 6, 2026
• Town of Bourne: 2026 ISWM Facility Holiday Closures: “Friday, December 25 (Christmas)” · accessed November 6, 2026
• Town of Bourne: Veterans Day Holiday Schedule: “Wednesday pickups will be shifted ahead by one (1) day” · accessed November 6, 2026