Starting Friday, Dec. 26, through the end of January, Scotts Valley residents and businesses can leave holiday trees on the curb on their normal garbage collection day for a free pick-up.

Simply remove all the ornaments, tinsel and decorations so the tree can be recycled into mulch.

New this year, the city is accepting whole trees instead of asking for them to be cut into pieces.

There is also a free drop-off container on Erba Lane in Scotts Valley across the street from the fire department.

For residents in the San Lorenzo Valley and unincorporated Scotts Valley, tree recycling also begins Friday.

Trees must be cut into three pieces and placed inside recycling cans or on the curbside on regular pick-up days. The program will run for three weeks.