Durham, N.C. — Once all the presents are opened, it is time to begin taking down that Christmas tree. You don't have to throw the tree out; you can recycle it in Durham and Wake counties.

Durham County residents with a current solid waste decal can bring their trees to any of the following solid waste convenience centers for disposal:

• Highway 55, Alexander Drive
• Rougemont, Bill Poole Rd. Highway 501 N
• Bahama, Quail Roost Road, Ball Road
• Redwood Road., Electra Drive

To prepare trees for disposal, residents are asked to:

• Remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, garland, and ornaments.
• Separate stands, nails, and other hardware used to support the tree prior to disposal.
• Prepare artificial trees similarly for garbage disposal.

Durham County’s convenience centers will begin collecting Christmas trees on Wednesday, Dec. 26, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. The sites will close on New Year’s Day, and reopen on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

Starting Wednesday, Wake County residents can drop off gift wrap, gift boxes, greeting cards and Christmas trees for recycling at the following convenience centers.

• 1050 Old Stage Rd. in Garner
• 6000 Old Smithfield Rd. in Apex
• 3600 Yates Mill Pond Rd. in South Raleigh
• 9008 Deponie Dr. in North Raleigh
• 5051 Wendell Blvd. between Wendell and Zebulon

The following Wake County parks will also be recycling Christmas trees only between Dec. 26 and Jan. 13, during regular park hours.

• Blue Jay Point County Park, 3200 Pleasant Union Church Rd. in Raleigh
• Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Dr. in New Hill
• Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Pkwy. in Morrisville

The employees of the Fayetteville Public Works Commission, City of Fayetteville and Progress Energy will join forces for the 14th annual “Grinding of the Greens” Christmas Tree Recycling program.

Employees from PWC, the City, and Progress Energy have volunteered to collect trees and grind them up to be used for mulch at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. The mulch will be used on woodland paths and flowerbeds at the Garden. The annual event will take place on Jan. 12, 2008.

Fayetteville city residents can put their trees out for curbside collection by Jan. 7. The City will make special pickups Jan. 7-11. No trees will be picked up prior to that date.

All lights, stands and trimmings should be removed from your tree. If you live outside the City or miss the pickup, you may drop your tree at the Botanical Gardens (Hwy 301 North) any day before Jan. 12 or observe the activities at the Botanical Gardens on the morning of Jan. 12. If dropping a tree off on Jan. 12, trees should be dropped off no later than 8 a.m.