The initiative began in the 1980s amid a national movement to recycle Christmas trees. Local government leaders, as well as LSU scientists and environmental groups such as the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL), sought to repurpose old firs that would have otherwise gone to landfills.

Five Rivers MetroParks offers several ways to safely dispose of old holiday lights and give Christmas trees a new use. Now that the holiday season is coming to an end, Five Rivers is offering several drop-off locations for holiday lights and live Christmas trees.

After the ornaments come down and the lights get packed away, L.A. residents face a familiar post-holiday question: what to do with that once-fragrant fir? In an area where fire safety is crucial, proper disposal matters more than ever.