There's a time, place for your used tree

As the last choruses of “O Tannenbaum” fade from memory for another year, so, too, must you begin to undress your tree’s lovely branches and prepare it for disposal – or better yet, recycling.

Proper preparation varies, depending on where you live and which hauling company serves your area. But one rule holds: Flocked trees cannot be recycled and must be placed in the trash. Here’s some more information on how expired Christmas trees are handled in your area.

Tacoma: The city will collect at the curbside as part of its regular yard-waste disposal pickup. Trees must be cut and placed inside the yard-waste container with the lid closed flat. Trees left next to containers will not be collected.

Tacoma homeowners, apartment dwellers and businesses also can dispose of undecorated, unflocked trees for free at the city landfill, 3510 S. Mullen St.

Trees can be dropped off from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. through Jan. 22. (The landfill is closed New Year’s Day.)

Decorated or flocked trees cannot be recycled and must go in the garbage.

Apartment managers or landlords who collect tenants’ trees can drop them off all at once, but are encouraged to call first at 253-591-5543.

Tree lot operators and nonprofit groups must pay for disposal.

Puyallup: Trees can be recycled at the curb. “Treecycling” is scheduled for the week of Jan. 2 for A Schedule customers (north of Stewart Avenue tracks) on their regular pickup day, and the week of Jan. 9 for B Schedule customers (south of Stewart Avenue tracks) on their regular pick-up day.

Remove the tree stand and ornaments, cut the tree in half and leave it at the curb no later than 7 a.m. on your scheduled day.

Lakewood and other areas served by LeMay Inc.: Yard debris customers can set their trees out on their regularly scheduled collection day. Trees must be free of flocking, tinsel, ornaments and metal hangers. Trees should be cut into 4-foot lengths. The entire tree does not have to fit in the yard waste can, but the can must be out for the driver to take the tree. There is no extra cost.

University Place and Fircrest: Cut up your tree and put it in your yard waste container. If you are not a yard waste customer, set out the tree on your normal garbage day and it can be picked up for an additional fee.

Sumner, Buckley, Bonney Lake, Orting, South Prairie, Milton, Gig Harbor, Graham, South Hill and other areas of Pierce County served by American Disposal, D.M. Disposal or Murrey’s Disposal: Cut your tree into sections no longer than 4 feet and place it in your yard waste container on your regular yard waste pickup day.