Christmas tree pickup in Watertown, MAChristmas treepickup inWatertown.

What is known and what is not

The City's yard waste page does not mention Christmas trees, and the 2026-27 tree schedule has not appeared. The best evidence is the city solid waste page, which says Public Works will collect and chip Christmas trees through the week of January 19, 2026, only, at the curb on your regular trash day, bare trees with no lights or plastic bags. A separate city page also mentions a paid Republic option. Check watertown-ma.gov/738/Solid-Waste-and-Recycling in the week after Christmas or call the DPW at 617-972-6420. The city page used for yard waste lists no tree guidance at all, so there is no safe way to assume dates.

Preparing a tree for a tight street

Strip the tree completely, since lights and tinsel foul the chipper. Place it at the curb clear of parked cars; the city asks for 3 feet of space around totes, and the same room helps a crew reach a tree. Do not put a tree in a city tote; the yard waste rules ban the city trash and recycling carts for yard debris.

If you miss the window

A tree is easy to carry to the Recycle Center in your car if you have ID, though the center's list of yard waste does not name trees specifically, so ask first. Otherwise, a tree-only JunkRun pickup starts at $40 at the curb, Dec 26 to mid January. Regular junk pickups have a $159 minimum if you are also removing holiday decor or other items from a basement. Check ahead if you plan to drop it at Stanley Ave, because tree acceptance there is not stated. The Recycle Center is open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 9am to 4pm, with Watertown ID.

Tree season, as far as we know

1. Dec 25, 2026

   Christmas Day.

2. Late December

   Watch the city site for the DPW notice; none posted yet.

3. Week of Dec 28, 2026 (expected)

   Last season's collection began the week of Dec 29.

4. Mid-January 2027 (expected)

   Last season's collection ran through the week of Jan 19.

5. After the final week

   Ask DPW; no pickup is promised.

Local resources in Watertown

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

• Town

  Watertown Recycle Center

  Accepts: Mercury items and fluorescent bulbs

  Open Tue, Fri, Sat 9am-4pm year round; Watertown ID required, no businesses. In Watertown itself.

  76 Stanley Ave, Watertown, MA 02472 (enter via Green River Way)
  Website for Watertown Recycle Center

Sources

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

• City of Watertown: Solid Waste and Recycling (738): “Public Works will collect and chip Christmas trees through the week of January 19, 2026, only” · accessed October 31, 2026
• City of Watertown: Solid Waste and Recycling: “Bins must be at least three feet from any other object” · accessed November 1, 2026