It’s nearly a week after New Year’s Day and it might be time to start thinking about taking down the Christmas tree.

Post Christmas cleanup doesn’t mean shoving drying trees into a garbage can or toss it into a neighbor backyard as disposal. Instead, recycle it.

Residents in Scotts Valley and in the San Lorenzo Valley can put their tree out on their curb to be picked up by waste management services on regular garbage pick-up days to be recycled into mulch.

- In Scotts Valley, trees will be collected from the curb on resident’s regular garbage pick-up day. Trees must be cut into sections no longer than 6 feet long and ornamentation must be removed. For residents without garbage pick-up, trees can be dropped off in a container across from the Scotts Valley Fire Protection district at 7 Erba Lane.

- In the San Lorenzo Valley, Santa Cruz County will pick up trees on regular garbage collection days until Jan. 22.

Also, fire stations in Felton, Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek have bins that serve as drop-off points for trees.

The curbside collection requires trees to be cut into sections 6 feet or shorter and that all ornamentation is removed.

For information: 454-2160 or www.santacruzcountyrecycles.org.