Once the baubles are boxed away and the fairy lights are finally switched off, there’s always that awkward moment. You know the one. The real Christmas tree is still standing there, slowly dropping needles, quietly judging you.

Good news: help is officially on the way.

The much-loved Christmas Tree Recycling Service, run by Cynthia Spencer Hospice Charity, is back for the third year running – giving Northamptonshire households a simple, greener way to say goodbye to their festive firs, while supporting vital local palliative care at the same time.

And yes, it really is as easy as it sounds.

How it works (easy, promise)

If you live in NN1, NN2, NN3, NN4, NN5, NN6, NN7, NN11, NN12 or NN13, you can sign up for the service before midnight on 7 January 2026.

Once registered, you simply leave your real Christmas tree outside your property. Then, between Saturday 10 and Tuesday 13 January 2026, teams of corporate volunteers from local businesses will collect it from your doorstep and take it off to be recycled.

Trees taller than six feet will need chopping down into manageable pieces (a small workout, but worth it). After collection, all trees are transported to approved recycling sites.

No awkward car journeys. No battling the local tip. No needles everywhere.

A small act that means a lot

Instead of charging a collection fee, Cynthia Spencer Hospice encourages households to make a donation – whatever feels right – to support its specialist palliative care services across West Northamptonshire.

To put that into real terms:

  • £10 could help with transport for a patient attending a wellbeing session
  • £15 could fund one hour of nursing care in the inpatient unit
  • £20 could provide a session of support, information and comfort for a bereaved child

Small amounts. Big impact.

Giving back, without the stress

Nina Gandy, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser Lead at Cynthia Spencer Hospice, says the service is designed to take one more job off people’s plates during a busy time of year:

“This convenient collection service gives you one less thing to think about this Christmas. No need to worry about how to dispose of your tree, we will do it for you!

Not only will you be helping the environment, but you will also be helping our incredible charity and giving back to the community we serve.”

It’s a neat little win-win: fewer trees heading to landfill, and more support for families who rely on hospice care when they need it most.

The takeaway

If there’s a real Christmas tree in your living room right now (and you’re already wondering what to do with it), this is your sign. Register it, recycle it, and turn a festive leftover into something genuinely meaningful.

Registration closes 7 January 2026.
Find out more and sign up at www.cynthiaspencer.org.uk/event/christmastreerecycling.