Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to put away all those decorations and dispose of your tree. If you decided to go the artificial-tree route, you can easily pack up your decorations and store them somewhere for next winter. However, if your Chicago (or near-Chicago) home had a real evergreen this season, and you need to throw it out, there is an eco-friendly option at your disposal.

Each year, the Chicago Park District offers several locations throughout the city where you can bring your tree in for recycling rather than tossing it to the curb or alley for garbage day. And the best part is that you can do this anytime (24/7), as all you need to do is drop off the tree and place it in a pile among other peoples’ trees.

Recycling begins Friday, January 1, and continues until Sunday, January 17. These locations only accept trees, not additional recyclables.

Questions? Call the Department of Environment at 312.744.7606.