King County encourages everyone to start the new year on a green note by recycling their Christmas trees, rather than throwing them in the garbage.

Trees – minus the tinsel and other decorations – can be chipped into landscaping material or ground into compost. Diverting trees from the landfill leaves more room for the stuff that 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 be sure to check with 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 your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/garbage-recycling/documents/Tree-Cycling-flier.pdf.

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