The lights are down, the ornaments packed away and the presents unwrapped. Christmas is over, but what do you do with your tree?

Starting Dec. 26, you can recycle your tree by bringing it to a recycling site in your area. Alabama Power is teaming up with participating Bruno's Supermarkets, BFI, Waste Management, Superior Waste Services, the Boy Scouts of America, B.A.S.S. and the Alabama Environmental Council for this year's "Recycle the Spirit" Christmas tree recycling program.

Recycling trees helps keep the environment cleaner, healthier and more attractive. More than 462,000 trees have been recycled since the program's establishment in 1989. "Recycle the Spirit" has provided trees for fish habitats, mulch for area beautification and saved more than 100,000 cubic yards of landfill space.

To participate, bring your Christmas tree to one of the 36 collection sites throughout your state from Dec. 26 to Jan. 13. Trees will not be accepted after Jan. 13. Please remove the decorations and stand from your Christmas tree before dropping it off in the designated area at participating Bruno's, Food World and Food Fair stores.

                            Recycle the spirit
                     Christmas Tree recycling program
                   Birmingham area participating stores

  BRUNO'S
  Montclair Road, Eastwood
  1561 Montgomery Highway, Hoover
  1675 Centerpoint Parkway, Centerpoint
  100 Inverness Corners, Inverness
  335 Summit Blvd., Summit Shopping Center
  3780 Riverchase Village
  509 Highway 119 South, Alabaster

  FOOD WORLD
  885 Dennison Ave., Birmingham
  1001 Westlake Blvd., Bessemer
  1309 Decatur Hwy., Gardendale
  2891 Allison-Bonnett Memorial Dr., Hueytown
  122 Parkway Dr., SE, Leeds
  581 Pelham Rd., Pelham

  FOOD FAIR
  2500 29th Ave. N. Birmingham

SOURCE: Alabama Power