With January 2022 now fully begun, most people will be looking to take down their Christmas decorations and start the year fresh.
While Christmas tradition usually dictates that decorations stay up until January 5 or 6 - any longer supposedly brings bad luck - many will be ready to begin their New Year clean now.
The tree is probably the most important decoration to consider when removing everything festive from your home, as unlike everything else it cannot be reused next year and must be properly disposed of.
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Fortunately, the City of Edinburgh Council has made it very easy to recycle your tree - in fact, you barely have to leave your home.
Here is everything you need to know about recycling your Christmas tree.
How to recycle your Christmas tree in Edinburgh
Take it to a Household Waste Recycling Centre
If you would rather not wait until your tree can be collected from your property, you can take it to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.
These are open seven days a week and there are three in the city: one in Seafield on Seafield Road, one in Craigmillar on Old Dalkeith Road, and one in Sighthill on Bankhead Avenue.
You must book an appointment online here, as if you turn up without an appointment you will not be allowed entry.
If you are disposing of your tree this way, you should snip off the branches so that it will fit inside your car more easily.
Place it on the street outside your house for collection
The easier option if you don't mind waiting is to simply have your Christmas tree collected by the council.
Each street in Edinburgh has a different Christmas tree collection date, and you can check yours here by entering your postcode.
It is important that you only place your tree outside of your home on the correct collection day.
On the collection date, you should put the tree on the kerbside by 6am - or next to a communal bin, if you use communal bins.
Be sure that the tree is not blocking access for pedestrians walking by.
Once collected, the tree will be recycled into compost.
How to prepare your Christmas tree for recycling
According to the City of Edinburgh Council, your tree must be properly prepared before it can be recycled.
For starters, it must be removed from any stand or base that was keeping it upright, and all decorations must be taken off.
If the tree is six foot or taller, it must be cut in half.
The tree should also not be placed in a plastic bag, and if being collected should be left in the garden until the correct collection day.
