The Brief
- If you have a live tree, there are different pickup dates and rules depending on where you live.
- There are several rules when it comes to what to recycle and what to throw away in the trash also.
TAMPA – Christmas 2025 is officially in the books, and now it’s time for the cleanup. Solid waste officials say don’t recycle artificial trees.
Most municipalities ask for them to be disassembled and put into the garbage bin. In Polk County, you can set it out on your furniture and appliance collection day as well.
When it comes to string lights, bring them to a scrap metal recycler, or throw them in the trash. Don’t recycle them. In Pinellas County, you can drop off string lights at Anclote Metal Recycling in Tarpon Springs, Goodwill Donation Centers, OCM Recycle in Oldsmar, and Trademark Metals in Clearwater or Pinellas Park.
Wrapping paper that’s glossy, glittery, metallic or has glue on it should be thrown away. If it’s the classic type of wrapping paper that feels like and tears like paper, it can be recycled.…