An ornament hangs on an artificial Christmas tree at the Balsam Hill Outlet store in Burlingame, Calif. in Nov. 2018. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Brianna Flores and Jessica Ogilvie contributed to this report.

In an effort to minimize landfill waste, public works departments are encouraging Californians to recycle their Christmas trees rather than throw them out.

In Los Angeles, officials at the L.A. Bureau of Sanitation are offering to collect residents' browning evergreens and shred them into mulch or compost.

The recycling program has been in place for 20 years, and is carried out in conjunction with the Los Angeles Fire Department and the city's Department of Recreation and Parks.

If you want to participate, simply leave your tree next to your green city-issued trash bin on collection day, said Daniel McKay, a spokesperson for the bureau. If you're feeling ambitious, you can cut it into pieces and put it in the bin.

Officials at the bureau hope that the program will reduce the amount of waste generated by the city.

"Preservation of the environment is actually what it is," said McKay. "We're on our way and on our goal of zero waste... by 2025."

L.A. residents can also drop their trees off at a number of local parks and fire stations on Jan. 5, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Trees should be free of their stand and decorations.

Additionally, McKay encouraged residents to report abandoned trees to the city through the My311 app, or by calling customer care at 1-800-773-CITY.

"If it's recyclable, we will recycle it," he said. "If not, we'll dispose of it. But in that case it's more for safety. We don't want trees left and drying out and becoming a fire hazard on the street."