A major sustainability milestone has just been reached in Dublin with the launch of Project reTREE - the world’s first dedicated recycling programme for artificial Christmas trees.

Until now, there has been no proven system to recycle artificial trees, and most end up either incinerated or stored away indefinitely because they can’t be taken apart easily. New research shows that more than 1 million artificial trees have already been discarded in Ireland, highlighting the scale of the challenge.

Recycling now available in Dublin

For the first time, households in Dublin can bring artificial Christmas trees for recycling to Ballyogan Recycling Centre and Ballymount Civic Amenity. Trees of any brand, size or age will be accepted, with or without lights.

Project reTREE is a collaborative pilot between local authorities, waste and recycling partners and community recycling centres. Thorntons Recycling is proud to be at the forefront of this trial, supporting the collection and processing of trees at our facilities as part of our commitment to practical circular solutions.

Why it matters

Unlike natural trees, artificial trees contain a mix of plastics, metals and fittings that are difficult to separate. Project reTREE is designed to tackle this problem head-on and build a recycling process that avoids unnecessary incineration and keeps valuable materials in use for longer.

It’s an important step in developing new recycling streams for items that traditionally struggle to find a sustainable end-of-life route.

Looking ahead

This pilot runs from 15 November 2025 to 31 January 2026, and the learning from Dublin will help shape a model that can expand to other areas. If successful, the approach has the potential to grow to recycling centres across Ireland, and possibly further afield.

We’re excited to support this first-of-its-kind project and encourage anyone replacing an artificial tree to take part. By recycling together, we’re helping create new solutions for a more sustainable Christmas.