DECEMBER 30, 2025

The City of Dubuque is again offering its “Merry Mulch” natural Christmas tree collection program from January 5 through January 16.

Curbside collections customers can set out natural Christmas trees on their normal collection day to be collected and composted. The tree must have either a City brush tie or a City yard waste sticker attached and visible. Brush ties and yard waste stickers are sold at most grocery, discount, and hardware stores throughout Dubuque, as well as at City Hall, 50 W. 13th St.

Trees taller than eight feet will not be accepted. Flocked trees are not compostable and will also not be accepted.

Residents should remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, wire, nails, stands, and plastic bags from the trees before setting them out. These items cannot be composted.

Wreaths and garlands contain too much wire to be composted and will not be accepted. Consider reusing/repurposing these items before disposing of them with regular garbage.

Dubuque residents can also recycle old or unwanted holiday lights through a program offered by the Dubuque Metropolitan Solid Waste Agency. Since launching its Holiday Light Recycling Drop Off program in 2019, more than 21,000 pounds of lights have been diverted from the landfill. Drop off sites within the city of Dubuque include:

• Carnegie-Stout Public Library, 360 W. 11th St.
• DMASWA Landfill, 101 Airborne Rd.
• Municipal Services Center, 925 Kerper Ct.
• Steve’s Ace Hardware, 200 S. Locust St. and 3350 John F. Kennedy Rd.

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