(Updated 10:30 a.m.) Your Christmas tree was beautiful, but it’s 2020 and it’s time for the tree to go.

Starting today (Thursday), Christmas trees placed on residential streets will be collected by the city. Pick up will run until Friday, Jan. 17.

Trees must be placed at the regular waste collection point by 6 a.m. on the scheduled refuse collection day.

This is a pile of Christmas trees after collection, which this season will occur Jan. 2-17. Remember, remove the tree stand (it is not good for the tree grinder), ornaments and tinsel…people do not like tinsel and ornaments in their tree mulch. pic.twitter.com/aeGU5uPNsi

— Alexandria T&ES (@AlexandriaVATES) December 26, 2019

Trees set out for recycling must be stripped or ornaments, tinsel and tree stands. The trees should also not be placed in plastic bags, which will contaminate the mulch. The trees are ground up into mulch that can be picked up by residents in the spring.

Staff photo by Jay Westcott