Boston's Christmas tree pick-up is back: 'The best two weeks of the year for a trash guy'

When people in Boston toss their Christmas trees after the holiday, they might assume the dried out branches are headed to the landfill.

But the city says the old wood will be composted to create new soil for Boston's public parks and community gardens.

"They go over to the same facility where we process leaf and yard waste," said Brian Coughlin, Boston's superintendent of waste reduction.

Coughlin says composting also saves the city the cost of burying or burning the wood. And he said the sanitation workers don't mind hauling away the trees.

"The truck actually smells good," Coughlin said. "The best two weeks of the year for a trash guy."

The Department of Public Works asks Boston residents to leave their trees out for pickup before 6 a.m. on recycling day from Jan. 3 to Jan. 14. And make sure to remove the lights, ornaments and stands.