How to recycle your Christmas trees & holiday lights in JoCo, plus more events
If it’s time to haul the holly — and the trees and broken lights — out of your house, there are numerous ways to recycle items responsibly in Johnson County. Plus, ring in the new year around town.
Each week, as part of our Johnson County News coverage and weekly newsletter, we share news, tips, events and community resources for several cities across Johnson County.
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Recycle your Christmas tree
Johnson County Park & Recreation District’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program begins Friday, Dec. 26, and runs through Jan. 31 at four locations: Theatre in the Park parking lot, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee; the marina parking lot at Heritage Park, 16050 Pflumm Road, Olathe; the marina parking lot at Kill Creek Park, 11670 Homestead Lane, Olathe; and the parking lot at the Sunflower entrance to Big Bull Creek Park, 20425 Sunflower Road, Edgerton.
Trees may be dropped off during regular winter park hours, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., except at Shawnee Mission Park, which opens at 6 a.m. Only trees are accepted, so please remove wrappers and all decorations. There is no charge, and the program is open to everyone, regardless of residency.
Get rid of other holiday goods
Recycle Spot offers information on how to recycle or dispose of just about everything holiday throughout Johnson County, including: Usable artificial holiday/Christmas trees; natural holiday greenery; working holiday lights; broken or nonworking holiday lights; and holiday decorations.
Recycle trees in Leawood
Christmas Tree Recycling is available from Friday, Dec. 26, through Jan. 25 at Leawood City Park, 10601 Lee Blvd., and Ironwoods Park, 14701 Mission Road. Trees must be free of all decorations, plastic bags, or other materials. They’ll accept real trees only — no artificial trees.
Play board games
Open Play Board Games will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, at the Cardboard Corner Café in the Lenexa Public Market, 8750 Penrose Lane. Bring your own game or choose from a collection. No experience is necessary.
Compete in a puzzle tournament
There’s a Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, at the Lenexa Public Market, 8750 Penrose Lane. Teams of up to four will compete on who can finish the same 500-piece puzzle the fastest. The fastest team gets a $50 prize plus some Lenexa swag. Second place wins $25. The tournament is open to ages 12 and up, and it costs $40 to enter.
Drop off trees (and wreaths)
There’s another Christmas tree drop-off in Lenexa from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily beginning Friday, Dec. 26, to Jan. 13 in the parking lot of Little Mill Creek Park, West 79th and Cottonwood streets. You can recycle natural evergreen trees, wreaths and garlands.
Ring in the new year in PJs
“Bring in the Noon Year” from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Lenexa Public Market, 8750 Penrose Lane. Dress in pajamas at this family-friendly count down to the new year at noon. There will be board games, giveaways, a time capsule activity, balloon drop, a sing-along of the New Year’s anthem, “Auld Lang Syne.”
Recycle your holiday lights
The Overland Park Recycling Center will be accepting holiday lights through January. The center is located at 11921 Hardy. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
This story was originally published December 23, 2025 at 12:27 PM with the headline "How to recycle your Christmas trees & holiday lights in JoCo, plus more events."