Mesa residents can help the city of Mesa give the environment a present this holiday season by recycling their fresh cut Christmas trees.

Residents are encouraged to bring their tree to any of the free drop-off locations listed below. Residents are asked to remove all nails, stands, tinsel, lights and ornaments from trees. Flocked trees will not be accepted because the flocking does not break down in the environment and wreaths will not be accepted because of the metal wiring which can damage the chipping equipment.

The following 24-hour drop-off sites will be open Dec. 26-Jan. 16:

• Fitch Park, 651 N. Center St.; enter off of Eighth Street;
• East Mesa Service Center, 6935 E. Decatur St.;
• Superstition Springs Police/Fire Substation, 2430 S. Ellsworth Road;
• Mountain View Park, 845 N. Lindsay Road; enter off of Adobe Street;
• Dobson Ranch Park, 2363 S. Dobson Road.

Residents wishing to take their trees directly to the Salt River Landfill at Gilbert Road and the Beeline Highway can do so between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday through the end of January. Mesa residents will need to have a current Arizona driver’s license.

Curbside pickup also is available for $25. Residents should contact the city’s Environmental Management & Sustainability Department at 480-644-6789 for more information or to schedule a pickup time. Additional information may also be found by visiting MesaRecycles.org.

As a reminder, holiday decorations, such as broken ornaments, light strands and artificial trees, are not accepted in Mesa’s recycle barrel. These items are considered contaminants and negatively impact Mesa’s recycling program. Use the Recycle Right Wizard online search tool, available at MesaRecycles.org, to find out what is accepted in Mesa’s recycling program.

The Christmas “treecycling” program is provided for resident use only and is sponsored by the city of Mesa and the Salt River Landfill. Tree lot vendors are not eligible to use this program and should call 480-644-6789 for alternative recycling options.