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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Ahead of the holidays, Los Angeles officials announced details today of the city's Christmas tree recycling program to ensure Angelenos know how to properly dispose of their trees.
To have a Christmas tree turned into compost and mulch -- which is available to residents for free -- people can chop their tree into smaller pieces and put them into their green bin. Residents can also leave the tree on the curb and schedule a bulky item pickup through MYLA311 or 1-800-773-2489.
People can also deliver their trees to a designated LAFD station, which includes Fire Stations 3, 21, 28, 29, 36, 44, 64, 65, 77, 81, 88, 94, and 106.
People who live in multi-family buildings are asked to place their trees curbside on trash collection day.
``Angelenos can celebrate the holidays and, when the season is over, are encouraged to recycle their Christmas trees in a way that is friendlier to the environment,'' Councilman Mitch O'Farrell, the chair of the Council's committee on Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and Los Angeles River, said in a statement.
Officials asked that all decorations, tinsel and stands be removed from the trees before being placed out for recycling. Flocked and artificial trees are not able to be recycled through the program.
``Our Christmas tree recycling is one of our most successful and important environmental programs each year,'' Board of Public Works President Greg Good said. ``Angelenos do a great job in properly recycling their trees and we appreciate their support. It's a win-win as the trees are kept out of landfills and are reused as mulch and compost that is available free to residents."