Give Mother Nature a gift. Recycle your real Christmas tree.

Calgarians recycled 36,000 Christmas trees last year. That's a 20 per cent increase in the Christmas tree recycling program since the introduction of residential pick up just two years ago.

This year, you have the option to recycle your real Christmas tree using the pick-up or drop-off services explained below. When preparing your tree, remember the following:

• Remove all ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand. 
• Do not bag or wrap your tree (including recycling tree bags).

Pick-up
The City will once again pick up Christmas trees from households with City residential garbage collection. What to do: Place your tree on the ground near your black cart collection spot by 7 a.m. on Monday Jan. 9, 2012. It will be picked up within two weeks.

Drop-off
The City will also have eight temporary drop-off depots for trees. These depots will be open Dec. 26, 2011 to Jan. 22, 2012. View a map of drop-off locations.

Drop-off locations
Fire Hall #15 - 6328 35th Ave. N.W.
Prairie Winds Park - 223 Castleridge Blvd. N.E.
Bottomlands Park - St. George's Drive and Seventh Ave. N.E.
South Calgary Community Association - 3130 16th St. S.W.
Parks Compound - 10312 Sacremento Dr. S.W.
Spyhill Landfill - 69th Street and 112 Avenue N.W.
East Calgary Landfill - 17th Avenue and 68th Street S.E.
Shepard Landfill - 114th Avenue and 68th Street S.E.

For more information, see the landfill hours of operation, or the Christmas tree recycling program frequently asked questions page on calgary.ca.