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ALBANY, GA --
Some say the most exciting part of buying a live Christmas tree is getting to decorate it, but experts say it's just as important to think ahead and have a proper disposal plan ready.

"What are you going to do with it otherwise? You're going to be leaving it as an eyesore outside, you don't want that. You don't want it to be in somebody's way, you want to see your place clean after you're through with it. You wouldn't want to leave it laying around," said Busy Elves Christmas Tree Farm Owner, Joedy Putnal.

Those who live inside Albany's City limits may not know it, but getting rid of your tree is as easy as placing it on the side of your normal trash receptacle and the city will pick it up.

Those who pick up the used trees say while some may be tempted to take it, decorations and all, to the curb, the most important step is to make sure absolutely everything is off of it first.

"It does mess up our equipment if we grind up your lights and metal ornaments," Judy Bowles of Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful.

Although Christmas is now officially over, Putnal is already preparing his trees for next year. He says potential owners should also be thinking of next year's holiday before committing to buying a live tree.

"Number one: are you going to take care of it while it's in your house and not let it dry up? Number two: how are you going to dispose of it? If you don't have the answers to those questions, it'd probably be better not to buy a tree," said Putnal.

For those who opt for an artificial tree, there are plenty of options available both in stores and online.