Charlotte , N.C. – The presents are opened, the eggnog is gone and the leftover ham has been packed away in Tupperware containers. All that remains of the holiday festivities is a herd of happy children, a trail of crumpled wrapping paper and a lame-duck Christmas tree.

Though you might be tempted, don't burn that Christmas tree! Mecklenburg County Solid Waste and Recycling will recycle your tree for free. Just drop off your tree at any yard waste facility and it will be ground up into compost. Trees can be dropped off at the following locations:

• North Mecklenburg Yard Waste Facility,

  12300 N. Statesville Road
• Compost Central Mulch and Composting, 5631 West Blvd.
• Hickory Grove Yard Waste Facility,

  8007 Pence Road
• Foxhole Yard Waste Facility,

  17131 Lancaster Highway

Also, don't forget to save boxes and bows for next year. (They'll keep much better than the fruitcake!) If a much-used gift box is ready to be retired, however, you can recycle it along with your gift wrap. For information on curbside pickup, contact your town of residence. For a list of the County's recycling drop-off centers, go to www.charmeck.org/Departments/LUESA/Solid+Waste/Recycling+Drop+Off+Centers/Home.htm.

For more details on Christmas tree recycling, contact Steve Elliott, yard waste operations core process manager, at 704-617-5898.