It doesn’t cost a cent to recycle a Christmas tree yet some people can’t resist trashing up Manteca with them.

Two days after Christmas, someone dropped of a discarded Christmas tree in the parking lot at Shasta Park on Edison Street

All they had to do was hold onto the tree in their yard for a few more days. Manteca’s Solid Waste Division and Streets Divisions will pick up discarded Christmas trees for free from Jan. 4 through Jan. 15. All you have to do is place the trees in the gutter in front of your house on your normal trash collection day. Be sure and remove any ornaments, lights, and/or garland. The trees are taken to Valley Organics where they are made into compost.

Trees left out at curbside after Jan. 15 will not be picked up for free. There is an additional fee after Jan. 15.

And if by some chance someone sees you discard a tree somewhere that’s not on your property, they can alert the police and you could be in line for a fine up to $1,000 for littering.