A green holiday postscript

The Department of Public Works has posted a handy guide to Christmas tree recycling in communities across Los Angeles County. Strip off the lights, ornaments and tinsel and put that bad boy curbside on the day specified for your area.

The glitter days may be over, but the trees have one last role to play: most will be chipped up and turned into “alternative daily cover” in landfills, while the others will be transformed into mulch or compost. Last year, more than 350,000 Christmas trees were picked up as part of the recycling program run by the county’s sanitation districts. As for dealing with the rest of the seasonal excess—metallic wrapping paper, we’re talking to you now—check out the public works department’s tips for leaving a greener holiday footprint next year.