When it’s time to put the Christmas trees away, Pierce County residents may do so while enriching the environment.

Through a treecycling program involving Pierce County Public Works and waste and recycling companies, used trees are being turned into compost. The compost is used by gardeners and furthers the purpose of the trees instead of taking up space in landfills.

Residents who subscribe to yard waste collection service may leave their trees by the curb to be picked up.

Pierce County residents who subscribe to yard waste collection service can treecycle their unflocked Christmas tree curbside.

All decorations and any staples in the tree need to be removed before the tree is placed at the curb. The tree into 4-foot lengths (or smaller) and place loosely inside the yard waste container. If it doesn’t all fit, dispose of the pieces over several weeks on regularly scheduled yard waste pick-up days.

People may bring their trees to the following locations:

Hidden Valley Transfer Station, 17925 Meridian St. E.;

open daily, 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Key Center Drop Box, 5900 block Key Peninsula Highway North;

Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Prairie Ridge Drop Box, 11710 Prairie Ridge Dr. E.;

open daily, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Purdy Transfer Station, 14515 54th Ave. N.W.;

open daily, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.