Christmas tree recycling is under way

The holidays are over. The tinsel and brightly-colored lights on your Christmas tree now seem tired and dull. And those festive ornaments now hang on drooping branches above piles of dried-up pine needles on your living room floor.

Yup. The time has come to take down your holiday tree and get it ready for recycling into compost.

In Los Altos, workers from Mission Trail Waste Systems are already collecting trees from residential curbsides and will continue to do so through Jan. 13. To participate in the curbside pickup program residents need to follow several easy steps:

• Trees should be placed curbside by 6 a.m. on regular trash pickup day
• Tall trees should be cut into pieces no longer than five feet
• Residents should remove tree stands, lights and decorations from the tree before placing it at the curb
• While all trees will be picked up, flocked trees cannot be composted

For details, contact Mission Trail Waste Systems at 650-473-1400 weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

People who live in Los Altos Hills have until Jan. 27 to put their holiday trees out for curbside pickup by GreenWaste workers. Residents should follow these steps:

• Remove tree stands and all decorations
• Cut larger trees into approximately four-foot lengths and place them curbside next to their compost cart by 8 a.m. on their regular trash pickup day
• It is not necessary to call in advance to schedule a pickup

For details, call Greenwaste at 650-947-4994.