With Christmas trees under their arms, elected officials and residents gathered on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Toja Square in Nice. The start of the Christmas tree collection was announced this morning at 8:30 a.m., under the banner of ecology and citizen participation.
The city of Nice and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis launched the annual Christmas tree collection operation this Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., at Toja Square, in Nice. This ecological and citizen initiative aims to support residents after the holidays while promoting the recycling of green waste.
Organized each year after the end-of-year celebrations, this operation allows the people of Nice to responsibly dispose of their natural Christmas trees. The collected trees will then be reprocessed with green waste to be turned into compost, thus contributing to a circular economy and environmental protection.
Present at the launch, Pierre-Paul Leonelli, deputy mayor of Nice in charge of cleanliness, collection, and parks and gardens, emphasized the solutions available to residents, especially the most vulnerable. “Elderly people, for example, can contact Allo Mairie to indicate that they have a tree they need to get rid of. We will arrange to collect it, just as we do with bulky items,” he explained.
The elected official also highlighted the environmental importance of this operation: “The message is that the tree gets a second life. It can be transformed and align with the environmental protection policy we have implemented in Nice for some time now with Mayor Christian Estrosi. It’s a shame to send it to the incinerator when it can be turned into compost,” he added.
Simple and Accessible Engagement
From January 6 to 26, 2026, several dedicated enclosures (listed at the end of the article, Editor’s Note) are set up in various neighborhoods of the city to allow residents to drop off their natural Christmas trees for free. An alternative is also available at recycling centers, at one of the 13 metropolitan facilities, freely accessible for this type of drop-off.
For Jean-François Ascas, director of the waste management agency, the process is intended to be straightforward.
“You simply need to go and bring your tree, without a plastic bag of course, to the appropriate locations or recycling centers. This allows them to be recycled and, ultimately, to take part in a true circular economy,” he emphasizes.
Residents Stepping Up
On-site, some of Nice’s residents are not new to this. Philippe, who came to drop off his tree with his son for the third consecutive year, emphasizes the accessibility of the system. “Throwing your tree out by the roadside is easy, but this isn’t much more complicated. There are collection points everywhere, not just downtown. It takes a little time, but it’s worth it,” he shares with a smile.
Finally, the city reminds that abandoning trees on public roads, outside designated points, constitutes fly-tipping, subject to a fine of up to 1,500 euros.
Through this operation, the city of Nice reaffirms its commitment to combine urban cleanliness, environmental engagement, and citizen participation, inviting everyone to adopt a simple gesture to start the year positively.
The List of Dedicated Christmas Tree Collection Points in Nice:
– Place des Vignerons de Bellet
– 6-12, Place Dominique Fighiera
– 19, Rue Mère-Teresa: Recycling Center of Moulins
– 157, Boulevard de l’Ariane: Recycling Center of Ariane
– 2, Rue Isadora-Duncan: General Ferrié Garden
– 3, Rue de la Gare du Sud
– 6, Boulevard Victor-Hugo or at 75 Boulevard Victor-Hugo: Alsace-Lorraine Garden
– 4, Avenue du Monastère (in front of the local hub)
– 137, Avenue Henri-Dunant: Musso Parking
– Place Toja
– Place du Palio.
