Last year’s Christmas tree chipping program diverted approximately three tons of Christmas trees from the landfill.

So the county Department of Public Works has decided to do it again by mulching trees for a future public project. The Town of Friday Harbor will also provide free curbside pickup of natural, undecorated Christmas trees (not artificial or flocked ones, however) for town refuse customers on Jan. 5.

Help reduce the volume of holiday trash by bringing clean, undecorated natural trees to your island’s solid waste facility during open hours, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There is no charge for trees brought by Dec. 30. Beginning Jan. 2, through Jan. 15, the fee for each tree is $5.

For more info about the county-run chipping program, call 370-0503. To schedule pickup by the town refuse department, call 378-2810.