As the Yuletide season wraps up, Jefferson Parish is gearing up to combat coastal erosion through its annual Christmas tree recycling program, and residents are encouraged to contribute their live, unflocked, and ornament-free trees to the cause. According to the Jefferson Parish's official announcement, locals from unincorporated areas and the Town of Jean Lafitte can drop off their trees at two designated sites from January 5 to January 17, 2026, or arrange for curbside pick-up on January 8, 9, or 10 after placing their trees out on the evening prior.
The process has strict rules. Trees must have all decorations removed, including lights, garland, tinsel, and stands. Flocked, artificial, or painted trees are not accepted. Only natural, undecorated trees can be donated. The Jefferson Parish Department of Environmental Affairs can answer questions at (504) 731-4612. Donated trees help strengthen wetlands in the Barataria Basin by breaking waves and trapping sediment as they naturally decompose.
It's not merely a matter of disposal but of renewal, with thousands of Christmas trees each year diverted from filling landfills and instead fortifying the shoreline; Jefferson Parish has harnessed this tradition to sustainably support the local environment. Volunteers wishing to get their hands dirty for a good cause can mark January 24, 2026, on their calendars when the event will take place between 8:30 a.m. and noon, and sign-ups are already open on the Jefferson Parish website.
