As the festive glow of the holidays recedes, many households are left with the lingering scent of pine and the inevitable task of disposing of a now-drying Christmas tree, a process that requires careful coordination with local public works departments. To assist residents with this annual post-holiday cleanup, municipalities throughout Racine County have officially released their schedules for both Christmas tree disposal and adjustments to garbage collection surrounding the New Year’s Day holiday. These plans are designed to ensure a smooth transition out of the holiday season by providing clear guidelines for the proper curbside placement of real trees and informing residents of temporary changes to their regular waste pickup routines. Adherence to these schedules and preparation guidelines is crucial for efficient service and helps prevent service disruptions. Residents are encouraged to review the specific details for their area, as collection dates and requirements vary between the City of Racine and the surrounding villages. This coordinated effort ensures that trees are collected for recycling and that waste management services continue to operate effectively during the holiday period.
1. Christmas Tree Collection Schedules Across Municipalities
In the City of Racine, the Department of Public Works has designated a specific two-week period for the collection of natural Christmas trees, commencing on Monday, January 5, 2026. Residents within city limits are instructed to place their trees at the curb on their regular solid waste collection day during this timeframe. It is imperative that all decorations, including ornaments, lights, tinsel, and stands, be completely removed before placing the tree out for collection. Trees that are not stripped of these items will not be picked up. Similarly, the Village of Mount Pleasant has announced its curbside tree collection will run from January 7 through January 20, 2026, also aligning with residents’ standard trash pickup days. The village reinforces the county-wide policy that only real, natural trees are eligible for this special collection service. Artificial trees, wreaths, and garlands, which are often constructed with wire and non-biodegradable materials, must be disposed of through regular garbage channels or other designated means.
The collection logistics in other Racine County communities offer varying degrees of flexibility to accommodate residents. The Village of Caledonia will be collecting trees left at the curb or roadside throughout the entire month of January, providing an extended window for disposal. As with other municipalities, trees must be completely bare of all decorations to be eligible for pickup. In the Village of Sturtevant, the collection is more condensed, typically scheduled for a single day in the middle of the month, with the tentative date set for January 12, 2026. Residents of Sturtevant are strongly advised to confirm this specific date with the Sturtevant Public Works department as the time approaches. Meanwhile, the Village of Union Grove will collect trees placed at the edge of the road throughout January without the need for a prior appointment. However, the village encourages residents to contact the Village Offices if a tree has not been collected within a ten-day period to ensure it is not missed. Across all jurisdictions, the message is consistent: only clean, real trees will be accepted.
2. Holiday Adjustments to Garbage and Recycling Pickup
The New Year’s Day holiday, observed on Thursday, January 1, 2026, will necessitate adjustments to waste collection schedules in several Racine County municipalities to accommodate the closure of public services. The City of Racine’s Department of Public Works has announced that there will be no solid waste or recycling collection on the holiday itself. Consequently, residents whose normal pickup day falls on Thursday will experience a one-day delay, with their collection shifting to Friday. All subsequent collections for the remainder of that week will also be pushed back by one day. To ensure their trash and recycling are collected, residents affected by this change must still place their carts at the curb or alley line by the standard time of 7:00 a.m. on their adjusted pickup day. This shift is a standard procedure for major holidays and allows collection crews to complete all routes within the affected week while still observing the holiday. Planning ahead is key for residents to avoid overflowing bins and missed service.
Villages within the county that utilize third-party waste management services will also see their schedules altered by the New Year’s holiday. In the Village of Sturtevant, where garbage is collected weekly on Thursdays by John’s Disposal, service will be delayed due to the holiday on January 1. Following the typical holiday adjustment protocol, collection is expected to be moved to the following day, Friday. Any routes that are normally serviced on Friday would then be pushed to Saturday. Sturtevant residents were reminded to have their carts placed curbside by 6:00 a.m. on their adjusted collection day. Similarly, the Village of Union Grove, which receives service from Waste Management on Thursdays and Fridays, confirmed its holiday schedule. With the holiday falling on a Thursday, all Thursday pickups were rescheduled for Friday, and Friday pickups were shifted to Saturday. Residents in Union Grove were also instructed to place their carts at the curb before 6:00 a.m. to guarantee collection during the adjusted holiday week.
