Where in Metro Vancouver can you take your Christmas tree to dispose of it responsibly? To a non-profit tree chipping event raising money for charity.
This article contains information about tree chipping in the following cities:
Vancouver | Coquitlam/Port Coquitlam | Delta/Tsawwassen | New Westminster | North Vancouver | Port Moody | Surrey | West Vancouver
Where To Get Rid of Christmas Trees
Charitable tree chipping events take place after Christmas, usually on the first weekend of the New Year and in the first week of January.
Volunteers from non-profit organizations like the Lions Clubs, firefighter associations and Scouting groups donate their time to turn Christmas trees into environmentally-friendly mulch and wood chips. In doing so they also raise money for their charitable causes and help people clean up their living rooms after the holidays.
Below we have listed some of the non-profit groups that offer tree-chipping services in their local communities. Most happened in 2024. Exact details for some of the services, however, were to be confirmed.
(Note: Times, dates and venues were subject to change.)
Vancouver Tree Chipping
A couple of tree chipping organizations in the City of Vancouver are the Lions Club of Vancouver and UBC Botanical Garden.
Lions Club Vancouver
In early 2024 the Lions Club services were in operation from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on January 6th and 7th. The Lions Club of Vancouver has four different locations – Kerrisdale, Kitsilano Beach, Trout Lake and King George Secondary School. They also collect donations of cash and non-perishable food which are then distributed to local charities.
See the City of Vancouver website for more details and alternatives.
UBC Botanical Garden
UBC’s tree chipping is by donation with a $5 suggested (and appreciated) minimum. This past holiday season, it ran from December 26th, 2023, to January 8th, 2024, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Trees are collected at the UBC Botanical Garden at 6804 SW Marine Drive most years. Donations go to Britannia Community Elementary School.
See the UBC Botanical Garden website for the latest updates.
Tree Chipping in Coquitlam/Port Coquitlam
Tree chipping services in the Tri-Cities area most years include one in Port Coquitlam by the city’s firefighters and another in Coquitlam by the local Kinsmen Club. See below for details about each.
Port Coquitlam Firefighters
The firefighters’ tree chipping event ran on January 6th and 7th in 2024 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day. It usually takes place at #1 Firehall at 1725 Broadway Street. The minimum donation is $10 and all proceeds benefit the Port Coquitlam Fire Fighters Charitable Society.
To learn more see the City of Port Coquitlam‘s website.
Kinsmen Club of Coquitlam
The annual tree chipping event held by the Kinsmen Club of Coquitlam took place on January 6th and 7th of 2024 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day. The service is available at Town Centre Park’s Lot A (at 1299 Pinetree Way). Donations are appreciated.
Click Kinsmen Club of Coquitlam for more details.
Delta/Tsawwassen
Two groups that offer tree chipping services most years are the North Delta Lions Club and the Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Club. See below for details about each organization.
North Delta Lions Club
The North Delta Lions Club hosted its tree chipping event on January 6th and 7th in 2024. Chipping is by donation.
Tree chipping services by the Lions Club in 2024 were at the following Delta locations:
- Memorial Park – at 5010 47th Avenue in Ladner from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm.
- Sungod Recreation Centre – at 7815 112th Street in Delta from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm.
See the Delta Lions Club website for more information.
Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Club
In 2024 the Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Club hosted its tree chipping event on January 6th and 7th. The event ran from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day at the South Delta Recreation Centre at 1720 56th Street. Chipping is by donation. Folks can also bring bottles and cans for recycling on both days.
Check out the Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Club website for more details.
New Westminster
New West Firefighters
On January 6th and 7th, 2024, the New Westminster Firefighters Charitable Society ran its annual tree chipping event. It happened from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at City Hall, which is located at 511 Royal Avenue in New Westminster.
See the City of New Westminster‘s website for more details.
North Vancouver
Places and organizations that offer tree chipping services in North Vancouver include the Lynn Valley Lions Club and Upper Lonsdale Preschool.
Lynn Valley Lions Club
In 2024, the Lynn Valley Lions Club held its annual Tree Chip Up at Lynn Canyon Park in the upper parking lot in North Vancouver. The event took place from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm on January 6th and 7th. The service is usually offered by donation with proceeds benefiting worthwhile causes. There was also a pick-up service available this year for $20.
See the Lynn Valley Lion’s Club‘s website or Facebook page for more information.
Upper Lonsdale Preschool
The Upper Lonsdale Preschool runs a Tree Chip Fundraiser every year. In 2024, folks could either drop off trees or pay to have them picked up from their home.
The pick-up service is by donation with a $30 minimum. It ran on December 30th and 31st, and again on January 6th and 7th. Those who preferred dropping their tree off themselves could do so between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on January 6th and 7th. The chipping service is located at 355 West Queens Road in North Vancouver.
For more information about the services, see the Upper Lonsdale Preschool‘s website or Facebook page.
Port Moody
Port Moody Firefighters Tree Chipping
The Port Moody Firefighters tree chipping event ran from January 6th to 7th in 2024. Chipping is by donation with $5 as the suggested minimum. The event ran from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on both days at the Inlet Centre Fire Hall.
See the City of Port Moody‘s website to learn more.
City of Surrey
Clayton Heights Secondary
This event happens at Clayton Heights Secondary School at 7003 – 188th Street in Surrey. Tree chipping was by donation last season and benefitted the grads of 2023 (who were raising money for their dry grad event). Donations of bottles were also greatly appreciated.
Trees and bottles could be dropped off between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm on Saturday, January 7th in 2023. Details about this event in 2024 were to be confirmed.
Surrey Firefighters
The firefighters of Surrey ran their annual tree chipping event on January 6th in 2024. It happened between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm at Guildford Town Centre at 10355 152nd Street. Tree chipping is by cash donation with proceeds benefiting the Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society.
See the City of Surrey‘s website for more information.
Canadian Cancer Society
Tree chipping took place in January of 2023 at Willowbrook Shopping Centre at the corner of 197 Street and Willowbrook Drive in Langley. The tree chipping was on January 7th and 8th between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. The service was by donation with proceeds benefiting the Canadian Cancer Society. 2024 details were to be confirmed.
Surrey Central Lions Club
In 2023, this tree chipping station was at Central City Shopping Centre at 10153 King George Boulevard. It took place on January 7th between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. The service was by donation and was hosted by the Surrey Central Lions Club. The minimum donation in 2023 was $5. Proceeds benefitted the Surrey Food Bank and other charities. 2024 details were to be confirmed.
West Vancouver
Ambleside Tiddlycove Lions Club
The Tiddlycove Lions Club in West Vancouver opened its tree chipping event on January 1st in 2024. It ran from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm for a few days. Exact dates were to be confirmed. The chipping takes place at the Ambleside Park parking lot along 13th Street and the service is by donation.
See the Ambleside Tiddlycove Lions page for more details.
Other Information
For a comprehensive list of other places where you could get your Christmas tree disposed of, see the Recycling Corporation of BC’s list of Metro Vancouver or Fraser Valley tree chipping locations.
