Now's the time to put the tree by the curb

RALEIGH -- There's still time to recycle your holiday refuse, including Christmas trees, wrapping paper, cardboard boxes and catalogs. Here's a guide.

RALEIGH

Raleigh residents are asked to put their discarded natural trees at the curb by 7 a.m. with regular yard waste on their regularly scheduled collection day. Be sure to remove all decorations, including tinsel. For a fee, Raleigh residents and businesses also can take discarded Christmas trees to the city's Yard Waste Center, at 900 N. New Hope Road. Minimum fees are $6.25 for residents and $12.50 for commercial customers.

All Christmas trees collected by the city, including those taken to the Yard Waste Center, are recycled into wood chips and mulch.

CARY

Cary residents can place their trees on the curb for collection or take them to a drop-off location. The first curbside collection in Cary is today. Trees not collected then will be accepted as regular yard waste starting Jan. 12.

Trees also can be left at the following sites:

* Cary Citizen Convenience Center, 313 N. Dixon Ave., off West Chatham Street in downtown Cary.

* Green Hope Elementary School, 1303 Upchurch Meadow Road.

* Oak Grove Elementary School, 10401 Penny Road.

For more information, visit www.townofcary.org or call 469-4090 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

WAKE COUNTY

Wake County residents can recycle their holiday materials and trees through Jan. 19 at eight locations, including the five recycling convenience centers and three county parks.

The convenience centers, which also accept other recyclables such as cardboard, catalogs, shirt boxes and wrapping paper (no foil), are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

Trees can be recycled only at the county parks from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. seven days a week. The parks are:

* Blue Jay Point County Park, 3200 Pleasant Union Church Road, Raleigh.

* Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Drive, New Hill.

* Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville.

For more information and a map, see www.wakegov.com/recycling/residents/recycle/wrapup.htm.

DURHAM

Durham city crews started collecting trees Monday and will continue through Jan. 30.

Trees and other recyclables, such as nonmetallic wrapping paper and cardboard boxes will be collected on normal household collection days. All decorations, including tinsel, should be removed. Trees taller than 6 feet should be cut in half.

Christmas trees also may be dropped off at Durham's Waste Disposal & Recycling Center at 2115 E. Club Blvd., Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., at no charge until Jan. 30.

To learn more about recycling during the holidays and year-round, visit www.durhamnc.gov/departments/solid.

CHAPEL HILL

The town of Chapel Hill will pick up Christmas trees for mulching on the regular yard waste collection schedule. Christmas trees should be put on the curb along with other yard waste. Residents of apartment complexes should place trees in designated areas alongside trash bins but not inside them.

JOHNSTON COUNTY

Johnston County residents with a landfill decal can take their Christmas tree to any of the county convenience centers or to the landfill at 680 County Home Road, off N.C. 210, at no charge.

For more information, go to www.johnstonnc.com.

Those who do not have landfill decals can take their Christmas trees to the landfill for disposal for a small fee.