Once all the food is eaten and visitors have departed, it is time to take down holiday decorations including the Christmas tree. The Durham County Government's Solid Waste Management Program will accept natural Christmas trees for proper disposal with yard waste after the Christmas holiday.

Durham County residents with a current solid waste decal can bring their Christmas trees to any of the four Solid Waste and Recycling Convenience Sites for disposal. Convenience Sites are situated throughout the County at the following locations:

• Highway 55 and TW Alexander Drive 919-560-0460
• Highway 501 North and Bill Poole Road 919-477-4325
• Quail Roost Road and Ball Road 919-477-8552
• Redwood Road and Electra Drive 919-682-8200
  

To prepare trees for disposal, residents are asked to:

•  Remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, garland, and ornaments prior to disposal in the yard waste containers.
• Separate stands, nails, and other hardware used to support the tree prior to disposal in the yard waste containers.  
• Artificial trees not reused or donated should be prepared similarly for disposal in solid waste (trash) containers.
• Residents are asked not to place trees at the roadside for disposal. Durham County Government is not responsible for roadside collection of Christmas trees.

Durham County's Convenience Sites will collect Christmas trees Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Convenience Sites will close on New Year's Day, and reopen on Friday, Jan. 2.

For more information about Christmas tree disposal, contact the Durham County General Services Department, at 919-560-0430 or visit the Durham County website at www.co.durham.nc.us.