A Christmas tree is shoved into a green waste can for disposal on West Anapamu Street in Santa Barbara. Trees should be placed near cans, not in them, and larger ones should be sawed in half for easier pickup. (Brooke Holland / Noozhawk photo)

With the New Year upon us, it’s time to rid the house of the dried-up Christmas tree. 

For most of the South Coast, including Isla Vista, Hope Ranch, Goleta, Santa Barbara and the unincorporated areas, the trash hauler, MarBorg Industries, will pick up trees that are set next to trash or green waste containers on designated trash collection days.

Santa Barbara County officials recommend cutting trees that are more than 6 feet tall in half, and removing all ornaments, tinsel and tree stands before setting the trees outside.

The trees should be at least 3 feet away from the trash and recycling containers.

In the North County, customers of Waste Management should put their Christmas tree out by 6 a.m. on collection days between Jan. 2 and Jan. 6, or on collection days thereafter.

Customers in Santa Maria should put their Christmas tree out by 6:30 a.m. on collection days between Jan. 2 and Jan. 6. 

Customers in Lompoc should put their Christmas tree out by 7 a.m. on collection days between Jan. 8 and Jan. 12.

In Buellton, MarBorg customers should place trees inside or next to their trash containers or green waste containers on their designated collection days.

Owners and managers of apartments, condominiums, and mobile home parks can contact their waste hauler for Christmas tree recycling details.

People can also drop off their Christmas trees at the following locations, according to the county:

South Coast Recycling & Transfer Station
4430 Calle Real, Santa Barbara (free through Jan. 13)​

MarBorg Industries
119 North Quarantina St., Santa Barbara

City of Lompoc Landfill
700 Avalon Rd.

Santa Ynez Valley Recycling & Transfer Station
4004 Foxen Canyon Rd., Los Olivos (free through Jan. 13)

Santa Maria Regional Landfill
2065 East Main St. (free through Jan. 6)

Waste Management Yard
1850 West Betteravia Rd., Santa Maria

Waste Management Yard
97 Commerce Dr., Buellton

Most trees in the county are ground into mulch. Waste Management grinds the Christmas trees it collects in the unincorporated areas and then transports this material to a commercial composting facility in Santa Maria. 

Christmas trees collected by the city of Santa Maria are taken to the same commercial composting facility, according to the county.

Christmas trees collected by the city of Lompoc are used to cover waste at its landfill.

— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.

— Noozhawk South County editor Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.