Q. I put my Christmas tree on the curb like last year but the city crews didn't pick it up when they emptied my neighbor's blue bin. What happened?

A. The city does curbside pickup of trees, which can be recycled into mulch, said city recycling coordinator Suzanne Jones. But because your neighborhood has the blue bins, you need to put the tree in the bin, which means cutting it to 3-foot lengths and/or trimming branches. Then you put it out on one of the twice-monthly green-waste days. Honolulu residents generally are good about "tree-cycling," sending back about half of those sold, Jones said. She reminds residents that they can use both their blue bin and their larger gray rubbish bin to accommodate the tree. Those who regularly have more green waste than their bins can handle can request additional bins.

Q. It is my understanding that you cannot smoke in state and city buildings. Isn't the Neal Blaisdell Center a city building? I was there for a concert and people were smoking in designated areas but they also were smoking next to the vendors' stands. Is this legal?

A. The Blaisdell Center is a city facility and smoking is banned in the building. City events and services manager John Fuhrmann said smoking is prohibited in the seating areas of an event. He said smoking is permitted on the Blaisdell Arena concourse in the back areas beyond the restrooms next to the pond. Fuhrmann said signs are posted to permit smoking there. He said smoking is not permitted in the area you describe. Generally, he said smoking laws prohibit smoking in enclosed public places and those within 20 feet of any entry or exit. Fuhrmann said smoking is permitted on the open lawn areas of the Exhibition Hall and meeting rooms outside all roofed areas. Smoking is permitted in the open lawn areas of the Concert Hall.

At the Waikiki Shell, smoking is not allowed in the seating, stage, walkways to seating areas or restrooms and concession areas, Fuhrmann said. He said smoking is permitted on the open lawn.

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