SAINT LOUIS, Mo. — Once Christmas is over, many families are cleaning up the joyful mess of the holidays, including real Christmas trees.
Whether you take it down on Dec. 26 or leave it glowing until after Jan. 1, you have to dispose of it somehow.
Fortunately, there are dozens of locations around the St. Louis area that'll take it off your hands, as long as it's free of lights, decorations, wire and garland.
St. Louis
Carondelet Park
Grand Boulevard and Holly Hills Ave., 63116.
Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday), Dec. 26 – Jan. 9.
Forest Park (to the right of the Muny, off Theatre drive)
1 Theatre Drive, 63112.
Open Dec. 26 – Jan. 9.
O'Fallon Park
West Florissant Avenue and Holly Avenue, 63147.
Open Dec. 26 – Jan. 9.
St. Louis County
Bee Tree Park
2701 Finestown Road, 63129.
Open Dec. 26 – Jan. 15.
Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park
13777 Marine Ave., 63146.
Open Dec. 26 – Jan. 15 .
Queeny Park
550 Weidman Road, 63011.
Open Dec. 26 – Jan. 15 .
Spanish Lake Park
12500 Spanish Pond Road, 63138.
Open Dec. 26 – Jan. 15 .
St. Charles County
Recycle Works Central
60 Triad South Drive, 63304.
Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Dec. 27 – Jan. 7 (closed Jan. 1-2).
Recycle Works West
2110 East Pitman Ave., 63385.
Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Dec. 27 – Jan. 7 (closed Jan. 1-2).
Founders Park
7 Freymuth Road, 63367.
Open during posted park hours, Dec. 27 – Jan. 12.
Heartland Park
100 William Dierberg Drive, 63385
Open during posted park hours, Dec. 27 – Jan. 12.
Progress Park
968 Meyer Road, 63130
Open during posted park hours, Dec. 27 – Jan. 12.
Quail Ridge Park (Group Picnic Area parking lot)
560 Interstate Drive, 63385.
Open 7 a.m. to sunset, Dec. 27 – Jan. 12.
Rotary Park
2577 West Meyer Road, 63348.
Open during posted park hours, Jan. 7 – Jan. 14.
St. Peters Earth Centre
115 Ecology Drive, 63376
Open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays
Tree dropoff is free for residents and nonresidents through Jan. 14
Jefferson County
Festus-Crystal City Elks Lodge
4 Elks Club, 63028.
Open Dec. 26 – Jan. 16.
Jefferson County Courthouse
300 Main St., 63050.
Open Dec. 26 – Jan. 16.
Pleasant Valley Nature Preserve
6701 Twin River Road, 63049.
Open Dec. 26 – Jan. 16.
Sunridge Park
8093 Tower Road, 63050.
Open Dec. 26 – Jan. 16.
Lincoln County
Cuivre River State Park
678 State Hwy. 14, 65775.
Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Dec. 26 – Jan. 15.
Madison County, Illinois
There are more than 30 Christmas tree recycling sites in Madison County.
Click here for a complete list of locations, including Alton, Edwardsville, Granite City and Troy.