ST. LOUIS – St. Louis residents began rounding up their live trees for disposal on Thursday, just 24 hours after presents were wrapped underneath them, clearing the way to prepare for spring cleaning in the new year.

Zane Cagle was dropping his tree off at Forest Park and told FOX 2, “This is great for the city; it’s a great way to make sure we aren’t putting it in the refuge or putting the green recycling. It’s a great thing when the city does this.”

Forest Park is just one of the three locations around the city of St. Louis where residents can drop off their trees at no charge in the lower Muny parking lot.

“It’s so nice because you don’t have to worry about cutting it up or trying to get rid of it. It’s nice just coming here, putting it on the roof, and just dumping it off. It’s nice and very convenient too,” resident John Arnold said.

Trees can also be dropped off at the Recreation Complex in O’Fallon Park and Carondelet Park Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At Carondelet Park, the city converts the trees into mulch that will be made available to the public later. Trees ranging from all sizes are accepted at any of the drop-off locations to help reduce, reuse, and recycle.

As for those easily tangled lights, they must be recycled at a drop-off location, as they notoriously break expensive equipment at the city’s waste facilities when discarded in dumpsters. 

Lowe’s, Spectrum E-cycle, and Cortex Innovation District are all taking drop-offs. Earthbound Recycling, Scrap Mart, and Wellston Scrap and Metal will even pay for lights per pound.

Light strands in any condition, electrical power strips, extension cords, clean cardboard boxes, and wrapping paper without bows can also be recycled at drop-off spots.