Now that Christmas has passed, families may be wondering how to get rid of their tree before it sheds needles over the living room.

Fortunately, local governments have that covered.

Tree recycling programs will run through the new year to reduce the amount of tree waste in landfills.

Last year, Denver collected more than 21,500 trees for recycling, the mulch from which is available for purchase in May.

The trees must be real, natural and submitted for recycling with all decorations removed.

Denver residents may set out their trees during scheduled trash collections before 7 a.m. from Jan. 6-17. They may also drop off the trees at the following locations through January:

• Cherry Creek Recycling Drop-Off (7354 E. Cherry Creek Drive S.) Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Havana Nursery (10450 Smith Rd.) Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In Colorado Springs, the following locations are open for tree drop-offs on Dec. 28-29 and Jan. 4-5 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:

• Baptist Road Trailhead (Baptist Road and Old Denver Highway)
• Falcon Trailhead (southwest of Woodmen Road and McLaughlin Road)
• Cottonwood Creek Park (Dublin Boulevard and Montarbor Road)
• Sky Sox Stadium (Barnes Road and Tutt Boulevard)
• Rock Ledge Ranch (Gateway Road and 30th Street)
• Memorial Park (Pikes Peak Avenue and Union Boulevard)

Rocky Top Resources (1755 E. Las Vegas Street) is also open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays through January.

The Colorado Springs Gazette is a partner in the city’s TreeCycle program. Colorado Politics and the Gazette are owned by the same parent company.

Colorado’s third-largest city, Aurora, is operating three sites, and mulch is available at all drop-off locations:

• Del Mar Park (12000 E. Sixth Ave. at Peoria Street in the west parking lot)
• Saddle Rock Golf Course (21705 E. Arapahoe Road west of E-470) 
• Olympic Park (15501 E. Yale Ave. east of Chambers Road)