Well, Victoria, as much as none of us want to hear it, another Christmas season has come and gone.
Depending on when you like to pack up your decorations and take the tree down, you may be trying to figure out where you can get this year’s tree chipped!
Before recycling, don’t forget to remove all screws, nails, lights, and ornaments from the tree. These items may be potentially hazardous if passed through chipping equipment.
When you are ready to wrap up your holiday celebrations, here are 30 places to get your Christmas tree chipped in and around Victoria:
The Central Saanich Lions Club
Back for another year, the CS Lions Club will conduct their annual Christmas tree chip by donation!
Chipping will begin in the afternoon of December 27th and will continue on select dates until January 14th.
After many years in the same location, the annual tree chipping will be held in the parking lot at 1800 Hovey Road (adjacent to the Central Saanich Lawn Bowls Club) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and there will be people there to assist anyone who needs help with the tree!
The Annual Christmas tree chip, by donation will be conducted by the CS Lions in the parking lot at 1800 Hovey Road, starting in the afternoon of the 27 December continuing on the 28th, 30, 31, Jan 06/07, 13/14 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm with assistance unloading the tree.
- Where: 1800 Hovey Road
- When: December 27th, 28th, 30th, 31st, January 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Castaway Wanderers Rugby Club
The Castaway Wanderers Rugby Club has launched their 20th annual club fundraiser!
They’ll be offering a tree chipping service by donation.
- Where: Windsor Park along Currie Road (beside the rose garden)
- When:
- December 30th and 31st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- January 1st from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- January 6th and 7th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- January 13th from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Reynolds Music Tree Chipping & Bottle Drive
Reynolds Secondary School is hosting a bottle drive and tree chipping fundraiser for the school’s music programs!
Bring a donation and your tree (and your empty bottles and cans if you’ve got some to spare).
- Where: Reynolds Secondary School, 3963 Borden Street
- When: December 30th, 31st, January 6th, and 7th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus are offering two tree chipping days!
Service is offered by donation.
- Where: St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 753 Burnside Road West
- When: Saturday, December 30th and Saturday, January 6th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oaklands Elementary
Take your tree to Oaklands Elementary on January 6th!
They’ll be chipping trees by donation in the school parking lot and all proceeds will go towards the school and all of its programs—suggested donation is $10.
There will also be a simultaneous bottle and can drive happening in the parking lot if you’ve got some recyclables you’re hoping to pass on!
- Where: Oaklands Elementary in the parking lot, 2827 Belmont Avenue #1
- When: Saturday, January 6th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Juan De Fuca Search and Rescue
This is both a bottle drive and a tree chipping fundraiser, so bring your empties and your old Christmas tree!
Service fee is by donation!
- Where: Slegg Lumber, 1210 Childlow Connector, Langford
- When: Saturday, January 6th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Easter Seals Christmas Tree Recycling Fundraiser
Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan is offering their annual Christmas tree chipping service by donation and the proceeds will go towards running their overnight summer camp program for children and adults with disabilities!
Drop-off locations in Victoria include the following:
- Tillicum Shopping Centre
- Save-On-Foods – Fort & Foul Bay
- Westshore Town Centre
- Broadmead Village Shopping Centre
For other Vancouver Island locations, visit their website.
Due to rising costs, they won’t be offering a pick-up service this year.
- Where: Locations above
- When: Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sidney Lions Club
Stop by Iroquois Park to drop off your tree!
Services are done by donation.
- Where: Iroquois Park, 9586 5th Street
- When: Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Central Middle School PAC
A tree chipping fundraiser for the school’s programs will be held both January 6th and 7th!
They also have a bottle drive running on the 7th.
The tree service is by donation.
- Where: 1280 Fort Street
- When: Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Victoria Gizeh Shrine Clown Unit
The Victoria Gizeh Shriner Clown Unit will be hosting their annual tree chipping event at the Admiral Road Canadian Tire!
All proceeds are going towards the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Montreal.
Not only will they be offering tree chipping by donation, there will also be balloon animals, red noses, colouring books for children, and the locomotive Loci and caboose for everyone to enjoy!
- Where: Canadian Tire, 1519 Admirals Road
- When: Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Community Living Victoria
The Community Living Victoria is again offering their tree chipping charity fundraiser and are thrilled to help out anyone that comes by.
They accept trees to chip by donation and all of the proceeds go towards the people they support.
- Where: 3861 Cedar Hill Cross Rd
- When: Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
McKenzie Elementary School
McKenzie Elementary School and Bartlett Tree Excerpts are teaming up for their annual Christmas Tree Chipping Fundraiser.
The event runs by donation, with proceeds going to the creation of Outdoor Learning Spaces!
- Where: Back parking lot of McKenzie Elementary School, 4005 Raymond Street North
- When: Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Compassionate Resource Warehouse
Volunteers from the Compassionate Resource Warehouse will be on site and ready to help you dispose of your tree at their tree chipping event!
The service is provided by donation and helps subsidize their their youth programming.
- Where: Archie Browning Sports Centre Parking Lot, 1151 Esquimalt Road
- When: Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Victoria Lions Club
The Victoria Lions Club will be stationed at the Broadmead Shopping Centre in the Thrifty Foods cart area!
And although their tree chipping services only run from January 6th and 7th, you can catch them at a bottle drive at Lumberworld parking area on January 13th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: Broadmead Shopping Centre, 777 Royal Oak Drive #100
- When: Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oak Bay Firefighters’ Tree Recycle
The Oak Bay Firefighters are offering a tree chipping service by donation with the help of Bartlett Tree Services!
The proceeds will go towards the Oak Bay Bursary program.
- Where: 1703 Monterey Avenue, just to the left of the fire department
- When: Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Colwood Volunteer Firefighter’s Association
The Colwood Volunteer Firefighter’s Association is happy to offer their annual tree chipping event again this year!
Tree chipping services is by donation.
- Where: Colwood Fire Hall, 3215 Metchosin Road
- When: Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
St Patrick’s Elementary School
St. Patrick’s Elementary School’s tree chipping event is by donation and all the proceeds will go towards the school’s programs.
- Where: 2368 Trent Street
- When: Saturday, January 6th and Sunday, January 7th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Central Middle School PAC
Bring in your bottles and your Christmas tree to the Central Middle School PAC for all of your recycling needs after the holidays!
Tree chipping is by donation—proceeds are used to support music at Central Middle School.
- Where: 1280 Fort Street
- When: Sunday, January 7th from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
GFL Environmental
Throughout the month of January, GFL Environmental is offering free Christmas Tree drop-off!
Bring your real trees and enjoy a stress-free January.
- Where: 1045 Dunford Avenue
- When: Throughout the month of January—hours are Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
H.L. Disposal & Lawn Services Ltd.
H.L. Disposal Recycling depot’s mission is to bring Victoria residents peace of mind when it comes to getting rid of old materials.
Everything is recycled or reused in an environmentally responsible and safe manner—and Christmas trees are no exception!
They’ll help you unload as well if required.
- Where: 334 Hillside Avenue
- When:
- Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
- Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Municipal Yard Waste Depots:
According to CRD, the following municipal yard waste depots will accept natural Christmas trees as an organic material for composting year round.
Contact municipalities directly regarding holiday hours of operation, restrictions, and charges before drop-off. Click here for more details.
A&P Disposal & Recycling
- Where: 6220 Marilyn, Sooke
- When: Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Contact: (250) 642-4456
Colwood Public Works Yard
Note that this is for residents of Colwood only.
- Where: 3300 Wishart Road
- When: 1st & 3rd Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Contact: (250) 474-4133
Esquimalt/View Royal Yard & Garden Waste Transfer Station
Note that this is for Esquimalt and View Royal residents only.
- Where: 605 Canteen Road
- When: Tuesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m Tuesday
- Contact: (250) 883-8683
North Saanich Public Works Yard
Note that this is for North Saanich residents only.
- Where: 10180 Littlewood Road
- When: 2nd & 4th Thursdays and 1st & 3rd Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Contact: (250) 656-0781
Saanich Public Works Yard
- Where: 1040 McKenzie Avenue
- When: Hours vary—click here for times
- Contact: (250) 475-5599
Victoria Public Works Yard
Note that this is for Victoria residents only.
- Where: 417 Garbally Road
- When: Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Contact: (250) 361-0400
Ellice Recycle Ltd.
They’ll be accepting trees during their regular office hours, but make sure you reach out ahead of time for holiday hours!
Tree chipping is priced at $21.50.
- Where: 524 David Street yard
- When:
- Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hartland Landfill
You’re welcome to drop your tree off at Hartland Landfill, but keep in mind you may have to break it down in to smaller chunks of yard waste first.
Costs for yard and garden material that’s less than 3 inches in diameter is $59/tonne, with a $10 minimum.
The price for branches and stumps that have a diameter greater than 3 inches is $110/tonne with a $10 minimum.
Come anytime during regular store hours, just keep an eye on holiday hours as they’re generally closed on stats!
- Where: 1 Hartland Avenue
- When:
- Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Peninsula Landscape Supplies
Peninsula Landscape Supplies will take Christmas trees as a part of their garden waste drop-off!
They charge $5 a tree.
Contact ahead of time for holiday hours!
- Where: 2078 Henry Avenue West, Sidney
- When: Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
