Christmas tree pickup in Reading, MAChristmas treepickup inReading.

Town options in January

The town's A to Z page says trees are picked up curbside one week in January, and may also be brought to the Compost Center on Strout Ave on one Saturday in January, dates to be announced. The Saturday drop-off needs a Compost Access Sticker or Compost Card Permit. No fee is stated. Check readingma.gov or call DPW at 781-942-9077 in early December. The A to Z page is the town's source for this schedule and was read on October 31, 2026. Dates and sticker rules can change between seasons, so confirm before you set a tree out. A tree put out outside the posted week may stay at the curb.

When to book JUNKRUN instead

JUNKRUN picks up from December 26 to mid January: $40 at the curb or door, $55 carried from inside up to 8 feet, $75 for over 8 feet, flocked, artificial or from a second floor. Each additional tree at the stop is $15 off. Tree pickup is its own service at those tree prices, and you can add a couch, boxes or a quarter trailer at regular junk prices in the same stop.

This suits households that miss the curbside week, a trip away in early January, or a tree on a second floor.

Handling a tree in older Reading homes

Narrow front hallways and stair turns make a 7-foot tree a mess. Put a tree bag or old sheet under the stand before you lift. Strip lights, tinsel and ornaments, and remove any plastic bag at the curb. A January snow can bury a tree set out early; wait for the week the town announces. Bag the fallen needles in a vacuum or broom pile before the tree leaves the house, not after; they will keep dropping on the path to the curb.

Tree questions from Reading households

Local resources in Reading

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

• Recycling

  Strout Avenue Compost Center

  Accepts: Leaves, grass clippings and yard waste, trimmings up to 8 ft long and 8 in thick

  Residents only with a 2026 Community Access or Compost Center-only sticker; closes for the season Dec 6, 2026. In Reading itself.

  Strout Ave, Reading, MA 01867
  781-942-9092
• Town

  Reading DPW Facility (Newcrossing Rd)

  Accepts: Desktop computers and keyboards

  Mon-Fri 7:30 am to 2:30 pm, Sat 9 am to noon. CRT TVs are not accepted here. In Reading itself.

  75 Newcrossing Rd, Reading, MA 01867
  Website for Reading DPW Facility (Newcrossing Rd)781-942-9077

Sources

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

• Town of Reading: Where Do I Get Rid Of A to Z: “Picked up curbside one week in January, may also be brought to the Compost Center on Strout Ave” · accessed November 1, 2026
• Town of Reading: Where Do I Get Rid Of A to Z: “must have Compost Access Sticker or Compost Card Permit to enter the site” · accessed November 1, 2026