Recycle a natural Christmas tree by donating it to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife

​Help create habitat for fish by donating your natural Christmas tree to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' Christmas for the Fishes tree recycling program this holiday season.

Starting Dec. 26, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will be accepting natural Christmas trees at more than two dozen drop-off locations across the state for this annual program. Please remove any lights, ornaments, tinsel, garland or any other decorations from trees that will be donated.

Tree collection will continue between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily through Jan. 15, 2022.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff build habitat structures out of the Christmas trees and submerge them in public waters. This makes great refuge and feeding habitat for game fishes, as well as their prey - small fish and invertebrates that are crucial for a thriving ecosystem.

New habitat is placed in lakes year-round by fisheries personnel. The Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of these features are plotted on lake maps available on the department's website. Enter the phrase “lakes with fish attractors" in the search bar on the homepage.

To learn more about the department's Christmas tree recycling program, please visit fw.ky.gov/Fish/Pages/Xmas_Tree_Recycling.aspx.