By Coral Gables Gazette staff

As the holiday season brings an increase in packaging waste and discarded Christmas trees, the City of Coral Gables is reminding residents and businesses to follow proper recycling guidelines to reduce landfill use and keep collections running smoothly.

The city’s Keep Coral Gables Beautiful program has outlined what can and cannot be recycled during the busiest weeks of the year, with special provisions in place through mid-January.

Break the box: Holiday cardboard recycling

Residents are encouraged to break down and flatten all cardboard boxes before placing them into or next to recycling bins. Boxes should not be placed loose in the swale.

To help manage the seasonal surge in cardboard, an excess cardboard drop-off container will be available at the War Memorial Youth Center through Jan. 16, 2026. All cardboard must be flattened before drop-off.

City officials say recycling cardboard not only reduces landfill waste but also helps keep home recycling bins from overflowing during peak delivery season.

Christmas tree recycling returns

The city will again offer free Christmas tree recycling for Coral Gables residents. Collected trees are repurposed into mulch and ground cover used in parks and planting areas across the city.

Residents are asked to follow placement guidelines carefully to ensure trees are recycled rather than sent to the landfill.

Single-family home collection schedule

Christmas tree collection for single-family residences will follow the schedule below:

• Coral Way to north city limits
  Mondays: Jan. 5, 2026; Jan. 12, 2026
• Coral Way to Bird Road
  Tuesdays: Dec. 30, 2025; Jan. 6, 2026; Jan. 13, 2026
• Bird Road to Sunset Drive
  Thursdays: Jan. 1, 2026; Jan. 8, 2026; Jan. 15, 2026
• Sunset Drive to south city limits
  Fridays: Jan. 2, 2026; Jan. 9, 2026

Tree placement requirements

Residents should note the following requirements:

• Place trees out after 5 p.m. the day before the scheduled collection day
• Keep trees separate from trash or yard waste piles
• Remove tree stands, lights, ornaments, tinsel, and all decorations
• Do not bag trees or place out flocked trees

Trees placed incorrectly or mixed with other debris will not be recycled.

Multi-family residents

Residents of multi-family buildings may recycle Christmas trees through Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, by bringing them to the designated collection area in the west parking lot (south end) of the War Memorial Youth Center at 405 University Drive, parallel to Segovia Street.

The same location will also accept excess cardboard for recycling during the holiday period.

City officials encourage residents to consult official city communications and the Holiday Recycling Map for updates and additional guidance as collections continue into January.