Now that the holidays are nearly at an end and you’ve (hopefully) eaten, drank, and made merry to your heart’s content, it’s time to start the clean up process.
For those who acquired a real live tree to complete their holiday decor, that beautiful centrepiece is probably starting to shed its first leaves.
Before it disintegrates completely, here are 22 places to get your Christmas tree chipped for free or by donation in the aftermath of this holiday season:
Central Saanich
Central Saanich Lions Club
Central Saanich residents can get rid of their tree by donation of the Central Saanich Lions Club.
Funds raised go towards supporting local organizations such as the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation, Shawnigan Lake Kids Camp, Mount Newton Centre, Victoria Therapeutic Riding Association, Sidney Food Bank, and various local sports teams.
- Where: 1703 Keating Cross Road (opposite the municipal works yard)
- When: January 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th
Saanich
Reynolds Christmas Tree Recycling
Students will be chipping Christmas trees by donation. Funds raised will go towards supporting the Reynolds Music Program and students’ music education activities.
- Where: Reynolds Secondary School, 3963 Borden St
- When: January 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th
McKenzie Elementary Parent Advisory Council
Annual Christmas Tree Chipping Fundraiser, with the generous support of Bartlett Tree Experts. This event is also by donation.
- Where: Mckenzie Elementary School, 4005 Raymond St North
- When: January 4th and 5th, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Chip in for the Kids
The annual ‘Chip in for the Kids’ event by the Easter Seals BC/Y is back!
Tree chipping is by donation and all proceeds go towards Easter Seals Services and Programs on Vancouver Island.
- Where: Tillicum Shopping Centre, 3170 Tillicum Road;
Broadmead Village Shopping Centre, 777 Royal Oak Drive;
University Heights Shopping Centre, 3980 Shelbourne Street - When: January 4th and 5th, 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.
Strawberry Vale Elementary School
This by donation tree chipping event is hosted in conjunction with a bottle drive. Whether you need to dispose of your Christmas tree or your collection of bottles and cans, here’s where you need to be.
- Where: Strawberry Vale Elementary School, 4109 Rosedale Avenue
- When: January 5th, 11:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m.
Victoria Judo Club
Recycle your Christmas Tree by donation. Proceeds support youth and community athletics. Chipping donated by Bartlett Tree Experts.
- Where: Hillside Shopping Centre, North Dairy Rd Parking lot; and
Lochside Elementary School, 1145 Royal Oak Drive - When: January 4th and 5th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Braefoot Community Association
Recycle your Christmas trees by donation, with all proceeds going towards supporting children’s programs at the community centre.
- Where: Braefoot Community Association, 1359 McKenzie Avenue
- When: January 1st, 4th, 5th, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
UVic Vikes Cross Country Team
Tree chipping by donation with proceeds going to support the UVic Vikes Cross Country Team.
- Where: UVic Centennial Stadium parking lot
- When: January 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Knights of Columbus
Tree chipping by donation. This event is also a bottle drive.
- Where: St. Joseph’s School parking lot, 757 Burnside Road W
- When: January 4th and 11th, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Victoria
Central Middle School Music Program
By donation. Sponsored by the Central Music Parents Association with all proceeds benefiting the Central Music Program.
- Where: Central Middle School, 1280 Fort St
- When: January 4th and 5th, 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.
Lansdowne Middle School
Drop off your tree for chipping by donation. Proceeds for Grade 8 Silver Team students’ year-end trip to Camp Thunderbird.
- Where: Lansdowne Middle School, 1765 Lansdowne Road
- When: January 5th, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Victoria High School
Tree chipping by donation, with all proceeds going to the Victoria High School Fine Arts Program.
- Where: Victoria High School, 1260 Grant Street
- When: January 4th, 5th, 11th, and 12th, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Oak Bay
Oak Bay Firefighters
This annual event is by donation with all proceeds going to support the Oak Bay High School bursary program. Tree will be chipped by Bartlett Tree Experts.
- Where: Fireman’s Park, 1703 Monterey Ave
- When: January 4th and 5th, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Chip in for the Kids
The annual ‘Chip in for the Kids’ event by the Easter Seals BC/Y is back!
Tree chipping is by minimum $20 donation and all proceeds go towards Easter Seals Services and Programs on Vancouver Island.
- Where: Save on Foods – Fort and Foul Bay, 1950 Foul Bay Road
- When: January 4th and 5th, 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.
Castaway Wanderers
The Castaway Wanderers Rugby teams will collect and get rid of your trees by donation.
- Where: Windsor Park, Rose Garden Corner, 2451 Windsor Road
- When: January 1st and 11th, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Langford
Chip in for the Kids
The annual ‘Chip in for the Kids’ event by the Easter Seals BC/Y is back!
Tree chipping is by minimum $20 donation and all proceeds go towards Easter Seals Services and Programs on Vancouver Island.
- Where: West Shore Town Centre, 2945 Jacklin Road
- When: January 4th and 5th, 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.
Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue
Tree chipping by donation with proceeds going support to Search and rescue volunteers.
- Where: Slegg Lumber, 2901 Sooke Road
- When: January 4th, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Colwood
Colwood Volunteer Firefighter’s Association
Colwood Volunteer Firefighters will be chipping trees by donation. Funds raised will go to the Colwood Firefighter’s Historical Fund.
- Where: Colwood Fire Station, 3215 Metchosin Road
- When: January 4th and 5th, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Esquimalt
Esquimalt Christmas Tree Chip
Trees collected by donation with proceeds to the Community Youth Program at the Archie Browning Sports Centre.
- Where: Archie Browning Sports Centre parking lot, 1151 Esquimalt Road
- When: January 4th and 5th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sidney/North Saanich
North Saanich Volunteer Firefighters
Tree chipping by donation to support the North Saanich Volunteer Firefighters. Pick-up can also be arranged for a minimum $20 donation by calling (250) 656-1931.
- Where: McTavish Fire Hall, 1665 McTavish Road; and
Wain Road Fire Hall, 986 Wain Road - When: January 4th, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sidney Lions Club
Tree chipping by donation.
- Where: Overflow parking lot of Iroquois Park on Ocean Ave
- When: January 4th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
676 Kittyhawk Air Cadet Squadron
Trees collected by donation with proceeds going to support the Air Cadet.
- Where: 1979 De Havilland Way
- When: January 4th, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Don’t forget to remove all screws, nails, lights and ornaments from the tree before recycling. These items may be potentially hazardous if passed through chipping equipment.
Happy post-holiday clean up!
