As the holiday season comes to a close and the new year approaches, it’s time for Santa Barbara County residents to recycle and dispose of their Christmas trees. 

MarBorg, the trash collector for South County and Buellton, recently shared its guidelines for recycling Christmas trees. 

To be recycled, all ornaments, tinsel, and lights must be taken off the tree. Real trees can be placed on the curb on green waste collection day or on trash pick-up day if residents don’t have green waste service. For apartment building residents, trees can be left next to the trash bins. 

Additionally, trees can be dropped off for free until Jan. 12 at MarBorg’s facility at 119 North Quarantina St. in Santa Barbara or at the South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station at 4430 Calle Real in Santa Barbara.

In Carpinteria, E.J. Harrison & Sons customers can place trees in their green waste containers through Jan. 9. Trees larger than 6 feet in height should be cut in half, the company says.

Solvang residents can bring their tree to the annual Solvang Julefest Tree Burn on Jan 5. The event is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. at 1760 Mission Dr. Live entertainment and refreshments will be available. 

Santa Ynez Valley residents can take their trees to the recycling and transfer station at 4004 Foxen Canyon Road in Los Olivos for free until Jan. 15.

Waste Management customers can place their trees 3 feet from trash cans through Jan.12  by 6 a.m. on green waste collection days.   

If Waste Management customers want to drop off their trees at the local Waste Management yard, they can do so for free if they can show proof they are customers, according to the trash company. Buellton customers can bring their trees to 97 Commerce Dr. and Santa Maria customers can take their trees to 1850 W Betteravia Road.

In Lompoc, residents can get their trees picked up for free during the week of Jan. 8 through Jan. 12. Residents can place their trees 3 feet away from their trash cans by 7 a.m. on their scheduled trash collection day. Residents can also drop off their trees for free at the Lompoc city landfill at 700 Avalon St.

West Coast Arborists will be collecting the trees to grind into mulch which will be used as landscape material throughout Lompoc, according to the city.

Santa Maria residents can also put their Christmas trees out by 6:30 a.m. on regular trash pick-up days from Jan. 8-12. 

More information on how to dispose of Christmas trees can be found on the county’s guide here.