Holiday Recycling Tips

This holiday season, please keep the environment in mind. Keep Coral Gables Beautiful wants to remind all of our residents and businesses which common holiday items can and cannot be recycled. Scroll to the bottom of this page for a comprehensive list.

Break the Box

Residents are encouraged to break down and flatten all cardboard boxes and place them into or next to recycling bins. Please do not place boxes out in the swale. Residents can also take their flattened cardboard boxes to a container located at the War Memorial Youth Center now through Jan. 12, 2024. 

Christmas Tree Recycling

Beginning on Dec. 27, 2023, the City of Coral Gables is offering free Christmas tree recycling to Coral Gables residents. Recycling your tree helps to preserve landfill space and provides the opportunity to repurpose this valuable resource as mulch and ground cover in natural park and planting areas throughout the community. So that we can provide the most efficient service possible, please observe the collection schedule and placement requirements below.

Single-Family Placement and Collection Schedule

Residents living in the area from Collection Dates
Coral Way to north city limits
  • Tuesday – Jan. 2, 2024
  • Monday – Jan. 8, 2024
  • Monday – Jan. 15, 2024
Coral Way to Bird Road
  • Wednesday – Dec. 27
  • Tuesday – Jan. 2, 2024
  • Tuesday – Jan. 9, 2024
Bird Road to Sunset Drive
  • Thursday – Dec. 28
  • Thursday – Jan. 4, 2024
  • Thursday – Jan. 11, 2024
Sunset to south city limits
  • Friday – Dec. 29
  • Friday – Jan. 5, 2024
  • Friday – Jan. 12, 2024

Collection Requirements

  • Place tree out after 5:00 p.m. the day before your scheduled tree collection day specified above.
  • Keep tree separate from your trash/yard waste pile. If the tree is placed in the trash pile with other debris, it won’t be recycled.
  • Remove tree stand, lights, ornaments, tinsel and other decorations before placing out for collection.
  • Do not bag your tree or place flocked trees out for collection.

Multi-Family Residences

Multi-family residents wishing to recycle their tree beginning Monday, Dec. 27, through Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 may bring it to a drop-off area located at the War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive. See Holiday Recycling Map on Google. A drop-off for recycling cardboard will also be at this location.

Points and map key for recycling drop off
  • Calendars
  • Cardboard and paper boxes
  • Gift bags
  • Paper cards and envelopes
  • Catalogs and magazines
  • Tissue paper and gift wrap
  • Newspaper
  • Empty Glass Containers
  • Styrofoam peanuts and packaging material
  • Ribbon and tinsel
  • Lights and wires
  • Plastic bags/Plastic films
  • Styrofoam and plastic cups
  • Ornaments