Christmas Tree Recycling

SEVERE WEATHER UPDATE

We have made the decision to cancel our collections on Friday 24th January due to the storm warnings in place. If we have not collected your tree yet, please make sure the tree is secure in its location or moved to another place during the storm. We will resume collections Monday 27th January. If your tree has not been collected by end of Wednesday 29th January please contact us at fundraising@stcuthbertshospice.com or call 0191 386 1170. Thank you.

Disposing of your real Christmas tree can be hassle-free, recycle it with us! For a suggested donation of £12, we will collect your tree and take it away to be sustainably recycled. By supporting the St Cuthbert’s Hospice Christmas Tree Recycling Scheme you are helping us to continue providing free care and support to those living with life-limiting illnesses, people approaching the end of life and families who are bereaved.

This year we are collecting in the DH1 to DH8 postcodes with collections beginning on Monday 13^th January 2025. Please note we can’t specify a collection date. 

Recycling your Christmas couldn’t be easier:

• Support your local Hospice
• Sustainable and responsible recycling
• Reduce landfill waste
• No mess
• No queues at the tip
• Simple and straightforward, just remove the decorations

Please read our FAQs below for further details.

• When is the last date I can book to have my tree collected and recycled? Due to the routing, planning and volunteers needed, we can only accept bookings until midnight Sunday 5th January 2025. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept bookings submitted after this time.
• How much will it cost? You can make a donation of your choice, and if you are a taxpayer you can also Gift Aid your donation. We ask for a suggested donation of £12 per tree. On average, last year people donated £11.35 per tree! It costs £3,770 per day to provide the special care that we do at the Hospice so please give generously.
• Can I donate when my tree is collected? No, unfortunately, all collections need to be pre-booked by midnight Sunday 5th January 2025.
• Where do you collect from? This year, we will be collecting Christmas Trees from the DH1, DH2, DH3, DH4, DH5, DH6, DH7 and DH8 postcodes. If you place a collection for an address located outside of these postcodes, unfortunately, we will not be able to collect your tree and your order will be cancelled.
• What do I have to do to ensure my tree is collected? Book your collection, take the decorations off and leave your tree in your designated place by 8am on Monday 13th January 2025.
• What should I do if my tree is over 8ft? If your tree is over 8ft, we encourage you to remove as many branches as possible prior to collection and if you can, cut the tree in half or into sections to aid our volunteers. This will help us get your Christmas Tree into our vans safely and ensure we are able to collect your tree on the day. If your tree is too large, we may not be able to remove it on the day.
• When will my tree be collected? Your tree will be collected from Monday 13th January 2025 onwards. Unfortunately, as we rely on volunteers to help with our collections, we are unable to provide you with a specific date and time. If your tree has not been collected by Monday 27th January 2025 – please contact us on 0191 386 1170 or email fundraising@stcuthbertshospice.com.
• Where do I leave my tree? When booking, you will be asked for an accurate address including your postcode. If you live in a property that is difficult to find please leave detailed instructions, such as by using what3words. Where possible please leave the tree on your property close to the road where it can easily be seen. If you have to leave your tree on the pavement, please ensure it is not a safety hazard to others. If your tree cannot be left in view, please include detailed information on where it is when you register e.g. “through the gate on the right, down by the bins.” And ensure that it can be retrieved safely by our volunteers.
• Do I have to be in? No. Just leave your tree in your designated place ready for us to collect. Please ensure your designated place is easily accessible for our volunteers even if you are not in.
• Who will be collecting my tree? Our wonderful team of Hospice staff and volunteers will collect and recycle your tree for a donation of your choice. Our Collections Team will be wearing high-visibility jackets and will have Hospice ID so that you can easily identify them. This year, we are kindly being supported by Caddick Construction who are providing us with their vans to enable us to safely and effectively carry out the collections.
• Can I volunteer as a Christmas Tree Collector? Yes! We are always looking for volunteers to support our collections. If you can spare a day of your time to volunteer, we would love for you to help. You can find out more information and how to get involved below.
• What if there are adverse weather conditions? At this time of year, the weather can be unpredictable, especially in some of our rural areas. We will advise you of any changes to the collection dates should there be an issue with the weather. The safety of our staff and volunteers is paramount and we will be guided by weather warnings.
• Why can you not specify a time or day for my tree to be collected? We apologise but due to the vast number of trees to be collected, and the volunteer nature of our collections, we are unable to give you an exact time and day when we will be in your area.
• What if my tree hasn’t been collected by 9am on Monday 27th January 2025? If your tree still has not been collected by Monday 27th of January 2025. Please contact the Community and Events Team immediately on 0191 386 1170 or email fundraising@stcuthbertshospice.com If our collectors cannot locate your tree, we will leave a ‘Sorry we Missed You’ flyer prompting you to get in touch to confirm the location of your tree.
• What will happen if I do not put my tree out in time? If you fail to put out your tree in your designated location by 8am on Monday 13th January 2025 we may not be able to collect your tree.
• Do you collect artificial trees? Although we cannot collect artificial trees, if your artificial Christmas tree is in excellent condition you can donate this to one of our retail shops.
• Do you recycle decorations? No, please ensure that all the decorations and stand or bucket are removed prior to collection. Decorations in excellent condition can also be donated directly to our retail shops.
• What do I do if my tree is taken prior to collection? If your tree is taken or moved before Monday the 13th of January please advise the Community and Events Team on 0191 386 1170 or email fundraising@stcuthbertshospice.com. If our collectors cannot locate your tree, we will leave a ‘Sorry we Missed You’ flyer prompting you to get in touch to confirm the location of your tree.
• What happens with my donation? Your donation comes straight back into St Cuthbert’s Hospice and is spent on providing care to those living with life-limiting illnesses, people approaching the end of life and families who are bereaved in our local community.
• What happens to my tree? After your tree has been collected, it will be transferred to our local processing partner, Charlton Chips. Your tree will then be chipped and sustainably recycled.

Thank you so much for your cooperation and if you have any questions, please do email fundraising@stcuthbertshospice.com or call 0191 386 1170.