Gulf State Park is continuing its annual tradition of using donated Christmas trees to support dune restoration efforts along the Alabama coast. For over 30 years, the park has placed these trees in front of dunes to promote growth and stabilize the ecosystem.

Residents are encouraged to bring their undecorated Christmas trees to the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion from now until January 31, 2025. All decorations, including tinsel, garland, and ornaments, should be removed before drop-off. The designated drop-off area is located beside the dumpsters on the east side of the Pavilion parking lot.

If you live in Gulf Shores:

• Remove ALL decorations and tinsel from your tree.
• Place your tree on your curb in a pile separate from other debris.
• Our Public Works crews will pick them up! - The last day they will be collecting Christmas trees is January 24.

If you live in Orange Beach:

Orange Beach residents can dispose of live Christmas trees for recycling by placing trees, completely stripped of decorations and tinsel, on their curbs for pickup by Public Works on Friday, January 3rd.

To be recycled, trees must be stripped of all decorations, and they cannot be flocked. Flocked trees are not recyclable and will not be picked up for recycling. (A flocked tree is a Christmas tree that has been coated with a white, powdery substance to give the appearance of snow.)

The trees will be brought to the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion to be used in ongoing dune restoration efforts.

Once collected, these trees will be placed along the edges of dunes in groups of three, creating a "U" shape. When the wind carries sand across the beach, the sand catches in the trees, building up over time and creating a new area of dune growth. The following spring, park staff and local volunteers plant native dune plants around the Christmas trees to further restore the natural habitat.

By donating their trees, community members contribute to strengthening coastal dunes, which serve as natural barriers against erosion and provide habitats for local wildlife. This initiative recycles the trees and plays a vital role in preserving the coastal environment.