NORTH COUNTY -- Customers of EDCO Waste and Recycling, Coast Waste Management in Carlsbad and Waste Management of North County can have their Christmas trees recycled for free by placing the trees at the curb on their scheduled pick-up day. Trees will be picked up for recycling during the two weeks following Christmas.

With all tree recycling, all decorations, including ornaments, tinsel, lights and the tree stand must be removed; if the tree is taller than 6 feet, it has to be cut in half. Flocked trees cannot be recycled, but will be collected if cut into 4-foot sections and placed into the regular trash can.

Trees collected in the curbside program will either be mulched for reuse or utilized as "alternative daily cover" at local landfills.

Other tree-recycling options in North County include:

Carlsbad -- Christmas tree recycling will take place through Jan. 18 at: Calavera Park, 2997 Glasgow Drive; Poinsettia Park, 6600 Hidden Valley Road; Stagecoach Park (lower park), 3420 Camino de los Coches; Fire Station No.1, 1275 Carlsbad Village Drive; and Palomar Transfer Station, 5960 El Camino Real.

Vista -- Tree recycling will include curbside pick-up through Jan. 11 on regular trash collection days. Tree drop-off is at the dirt lot on the corner of Guajome and Mercantile or the parking lot at the corner of South Melrose and Shadowridge Drive through Jan. 11. Call (760) 727-1600.

Escondido -- Tree recycling will include curbside pick-up through Jan. 16. Two drop-off sites will also be available through Jan. 16: 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, at the parking lot next to the ball fields

San Marcos -- In addition to curbside service by EDCO, trees can be dropped off for recycling through Jan. 12 at San Marcos Senior Center, 111 Richmar Ave., in the south end of parking lot Â