Boxes and bows can be tossed in, but not your Christmas tree.

And don’t dump that old recliner to make for the new one that Santa brought.

The city is placing six green containers throughout Brookhaven today in preparation of the extra household trash that will accumulate during the holiday season. The containers are marked “City of Brookhaven” and will be in place at the following locations through Christmas Day, said Mayor Joe Cox.

• Parking lot at West Chickasaw Street, across from the Lincoln County-Brookhaven Government Complex.

• The Stahl Urban parking lot.

• Behind Central Fire Station on Comstock Street.

• Howard Road off Brignall Road.

• District 2 County Barn on Old Highway 51.

• A. L. Lott Sportsplex parking lot area.

Only bagged household trash should be placed in the containers, Cox said. Recyclables, leaves, debris and mattresses shouldn’t be placed inside the containers or around them.

Cox said a previous administration started the practice, but the city hasn’t provided the Christmas containers in several years. Aldermen were concerned about the overflow of garbage over Christmas and decided to offer the service to residents.

Public Works Director Keith Lewis said the containers will be picked up Wednesday and he hopes residents will take advantage of them while they’re out. Instead of putting bags of overflow garbage at the curb and taking a chance of animals causing a mess, the bags can be placed in the containers.

There’s also the added security for residents who don’t want to put empty electronics boxes at the curb. Lewis suggests breaking down that box for the new 60-inch flat screen and putting it in the container instead of in front of the house to deter break-ins.

Residents who want to dispose of live Christmas trees should follow the same procedure as regular debris pickup, Lewis said.

Recycle pickup will run a regular schedule Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, however, Arrow will not run Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Instead, routes will run one day behind — Tuesday pickup will be on Wednesday, Wednesday on Thursday, Thursday on Friday and Friday on Saturday.

The same schedule is set for the New Year’s holiday as well.