Waste officials: Don't trash your Christmas tree

State waste officials are reminding people that it's against the law to throw real Christmas trees in the trash.

Pam McCurdy, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency spokeswoman, said there are a lot of options to compost trees and wreaths, along with any yard waste that didn't make it out to the curb before yard collections ended.

"Every city and county is a little different, but for example the city of Minneapolis takes the tree if you just put it next to your garbage," she said. "Various counties do things where you can bring it to the yard waste site, or they pick them up."

Ramsey County residents can drop off Christmas trees as well as any remaining leaves at yard waste sites this weekend.

Twin Cities residents can also check out rethinkrecycling.com to find out what to do with their Christmas trees.

MPCA officials are also reminding people who received new electronics to recycle their old ones. Some counties and retailers like Best Buy and Staples offer free recycling of e-waste.