Now that the gifts are gone from under the Christmas tree, thoughts may be turning how to get the evergreen out of the house.
But there is definitely a right and a wrong way to dispose of a cut Christmas tree.
The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Department have information and sites to help people properly dispose of their holiday decorations.
"We just encourage folks to recycle them, that keeps them out of the landfills," said Joe Jerek, news services coordinator with the Missouri Department of Conservation. "If you have a live tree, we really strongly encourage that you recycle that in some way."
Jerek's suggestions were to compost or mulch the tree. Also, he said, there are ways to use it as a bird shelter if it can be replanted in the back yard. It can also shelter fish. Jerek suggested to tie a cinder block to the trunk and tossing it into a pond to keep it down.
For more information on how to handle a live Christmas tree, go to mdc.mo.gov and search for Christmas tree care.
For those who cannot recycle their tree themselves, the city will do it for them. People can drop off their tree anytime between Friday and Jan. 31 at the bridge entrance at Vivion Field in Washington Park, said Angie Toebben, recreation supervisor of the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Department.
The city will use the trees as compost or mulch, as well as fish beds, she said. The trees cannot be decorated or flocked, meaning decorated with fake snow. The city has been collecting trees at this site for more then 25 years, Toebben said.