Don't forget to 'treecycle' this Christmas season

King County reminds you to ring in the new year by doing a good deed for the environment: Recycle your old Christmas tree, instead of throwing it in the garbage.

Trees – minus the tinsel and other decorations – can be chipped into landscaping material or ground finer into a composting soil amendment. Diverting trees from the landfill also saves room for what really needs to be there.

Here are some tree-recycling options:

• Curbside pickup: If you have curbside yard waste collection service, you can place your tree at the curb with your regular yard waste. Restrictions vary, so contact your garbage hauler for the details.

• Private companies: Several companies in King County collect Christmas trees for recycling – at rates that are lower than the transfer station. Visit http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/garbage-recycling/tree-cycling.asp

• Fundraising events: Many community groups sponsor Christmas tree-cycling fundraising events, including scouting troops, churches and others. For a small donation, they will deliver your tree to a commercial recycler. Look for neighborhood flyers for recycling events.

For more information, call the King County Solid Waste Division, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 206-296-4466 or toll free, at 1-800-325-6165, ext. 6-4466, TTY Relay: 711 or visit the website at http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/index.asp.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.