MANKATO — As the 2024 holiday season nears its end, area towns are offering free disposal services to residents who use live Christmas trees to decorate their homes.
Mankato
Residents may dispose of their live Christmas trees at free recycling sites at selected city parks through mid-January.
The drop-off sites are located at:
• On the south side of the parking lot at Franklin Rogers Park, 601 Reed St.
• In the back parking lot on the ballfield side of Sibley Park, 900 Mound Ave.
• In the parking lot near the pickleball courts at Tourtellotte Park, 300 Mabel St.
A barricade and signs will be in place near these locations.
Another free option available to Mankato residents is to drop trees off between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays at the Minnesota Paving and Materials compost site, 3600 Third Ave., where crews will make mulch from the discarded trees.
For more information call 507-388-3122.
North Mankato
Residents may bring their trees to a drop-off site on the grounds of Riverbend Recycling Center, 600 Webster Ave.
The recycling center also accepted unwanted holiday lights and electrical cords during business hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
St. Peter
A free curbside service will be available to St. Peter residents next week.
Unadorned trees need to be curbside by 7 a.m. Jan. 6. Holiday wreaths are not accepted. Residents also may drop off their Christmas trees at the city’s compost facility at the corner of St. Julian and Swift street.
A drop-off container for unwanted holiday lights is in place near the front doors of Arrow Hardware.
The city offers a rebate for residents’ purchases of LED holiday lights. For more information, go to: saveenergyinstpeter.com.
Before residents use the tree disposal services, they should remove all decorations from branches. Tree stands and plastic bags will not be accepted.