There are several ways to recycle or dispose of your Christmas trees, other holiday items in Central Oregon

(Update: adding video, KTVZ.COM Poll; Cascade Disposal also doing free pickup in January)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- With the holidays coming to an end soon, you may be thinking about what to do with your fresh-cut Christmas tree. Fortunately, there are a few convenient options here in Central Oregon.

Through Jan. 31, Christmas trees will be accepted free of charge at Deschutes County's Knott Landfill Recycling Center. That's also the case at their Southwest, Northwest, Negus and Alfalfa transfer stations.

"It's pretty active area right now, with all the Christmas trees being recycled," county Director of Solid Waste Tim Brownell said Wednesday.

"We only want the the natural product that is compostable. So remove all tinsel and lights and the ornaments and everything you can off the tree," Brownell explained.

But you can also drop off other items such as wreaths, wrapping paper and strings of Christmas lights.

 If you have curbside yard debris collection, you can have your tree collected at home. But for many, you will need to cut your tree to fit in the curbside yard debris cart with the lid closed.

 "You can cut it up. It just has to fit in your cart. So for many people, it's easier to just bring it down here," Brownell said.

If the tree is not fully in the cart, an extra fee may be charged. It is also important to remove all the decorations and the stand. 

Central Oregon Scouts BSA will also be collecting and recycling Christmas trees around the community on the weekends of December 30-31 and January 6-7. They request a donation of $10 but will gladly accept any donation over that amount.

Cascade Disposal, meanwhile, tells us it's collecting Christmas trees at no cost curbside next month, and they don't have to be in the cart; call or email to set a date for pickup, remove all decorations and place at the front curb the night before.

They will be doing so Jan. 8-26, waiting until after the BSA collection weekends to help them get donations.

Here's the rest of the Scouts' news release with their details:

The money raised from the Scouts’ efforts will go to support the local Scout troops of Central Oregon. The donation is used to fund troop activities, community service projects and to replace worn out gear the scouts use throughout the year.

The mission of Scouts BSA is to create the leaders of tomorrow by building character through outdoor challenges and education. Your donation helps make that mission a reality.

For general information on tree recycling in Central Oregon, please visit the website we have set up at www.takeyourtree.com.

Some troops will post door flyers specifying which days they will be picking up trees in specific neighborhoods.

If you live within the city limits of Bend, you do not need to call in to have your tree picked up. The troops in those communities will be cruising the area picking up trees starting around 8am on the recycling weekends.

Please have your tree cleaned of all decorations and place it by the street where it is easily visible to our Scouts and drivers. We will not be checking alleys.

You can make a donation via PayPal or Venmo by visiting www.takeyourtree.com and clicking on the area you reside in or you can attach your donation in a Ziplock bag rubber banded to your tree. Please make your check out to ‘Scouts BSA.”

If you did not receive a door flyer, wish to arrange other payment options, need special assistance with your tree or have general questions; please visit their website, www.takeyourtree.com, or call and leave a message at the messaging phone number for your area.

541-475-7274 for pick up in Madras; 541 385-3989 for pick up in Redmond; 541-385-3977 for pick up in Sunriver/La Pine, 541 385-2672 for pick up in NE Bend (Zone 1), 541 385-3942 for pick up in SE Bend (Zone 2), 541-385-3977 for pick up in SW Bend (Zone 4), 541 385-2692 for pick up in NW Bend (Zone 5), 541 385-2640 for pick up in Central Bend (Zone 3); 541-777-7335 / 541-350-4140 for pick up in Prineville.