Where to retire your yule tree

Fa-la-la-la-feh. Time to get rid of the natural Christmas trees, especially if you bought one the day after Thanksgiving.

The trees are usually put through a chipper, so remove all plastic bags, wire, decorations, nails, stands and tinsel so the workers don't get hurt.

Wreaths and roping have to be put in your normal trash.

• In Geneva, the public works department will start collecting trees for free the week of Jan. 7 and continue through Jan. 25.

Place your tree at the edge of the pavement or curb by 7 a.m. Monday each week.

Christmas trees also may be dropped off at the public works department, 1800 South St.

If it snows, tree pickup will be delayed, as those workers will be busy plowing snow and salting streets.

If you can't wait, you can put a garbage sticker on the tree to have it hauled away on your normal garbage day.

Wood chips from recycled Christmas trees are available for pickup by Geneva residents at the public works department. For details, visit www.geneva.il.us, or call (630) 232-1501.

• In Batavia trees will be picked up east of the river the week of Jan. 7 and west of the river Jan. 14. Have the trees out at the curb by 7 a.m. Monday.

• In St. Charles, trees will be picked up for free east of the river the week of Jan. 7 and west of the river the week of Jan. 14.

• In Elburn, Christmas trees are being collected for free through the end of January.

• In North Aurora, Christmas trees are being collected for free by Waste Management on normal collection days. If you don't get that tree to the curb in January, you can still dispose of it in February, but it will cost you a garbage sticker.