NORTH COUNTY —— Long after the wrapping paper, ornaments, ribbons and boxes have made their way to the trash bins, one part of the holidays remains in many homes —— the Christmas tree.

Waste disposal officials and recycling groups are urging residents to think about the best way to dispose of those bare trees.

"People need to know that Christmas trees are a totally renewable product," said Derek Turbide, executive director of I Love A Clean San Diego, a countywide group which promotes recycling. Turbide said the trees can be shredded into a useful product instead of being left in a landfill covered with trash and dirt.

The recycling organization has made an effort to stress the environmental benefits of recycling trees for years and in turn gained community cooperation, said Turbide.

Last year there were 940 tons of Christmas trees recycled countywide into compost and mulch, according to Turbide.

"It (the mulch) can be used in our soil," said Turbide. "We have a lot of poor soil in the county that can really benefit from all the recycling."

Waste companies are asking residents to strip their trees of ornaments, flocking and other decorations before putting them out at the curb to be picked up with other green waste. Trees must also be cut so that they are less than 4-feet long and 18 inches in diameter, disposal officials said.

"The goal is to try and keep the trees out of the landfills," said Jeff Ritchie, vice president of EDCO Waste and Recycling Services.

Turbide said I Love A Clean San Diego has created a hotline number for San Diego County residents who are interested in finding out where they can recycle their trees if they do not have curbside greenery collection with a waste disposal company.

City residents can call (800) 237-BLUE (2583) and those living in unincorporated areas can call (877) 713-2784.

In North County, drop-off sites have been designated for communities with no curbside greenery collection.

Carlsbad

Carlsbad-Coast Waste Management Yard, 5960 El Camino Real; Fire Station No. 1 1275 Carlsbad Village Drive; 3420 Camino del los Coches; 6600 Hidden Valley Road; Calaveras Park, 2997 Glasgow Drive.

Encinitas

Encinitas-Moonlight Beach upper parking lot, Third and C streets, through Jan. 9.

Escondido

Escondido-Kit Carson Park, 3333 Bear Valley Parkway, south entrance, first parking lot on right across from adult softball complex; Jesmond Dene Park, 2401 N. Broadway, parking lot next to ballfields, through Jan. 16.

Fallbrook

Fallbrook Refuse, 550 W. Aviation Road

Rancho Bernardo

Rancho Bernardo Recreation Center, 18448 W. Bernardo Drive, through Jan. 4.

San Marcos

City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive, west parking lot through Jan. 9.

Valley Center

Valley Center Community Hall, 28246 Lilac Road, through Jan. 9.

Vista

Lot between City Hall and Vista branch library on Eucalyptus Avenue, through Jan 9.

Contact staff writer Brenda Duran at (760) 761-4408 or bduran@nctimes.com.