We recycle the Christmas wrapping paper, the tissue and save gift boxes, bows, ribbon and those cute gift bags to reuse next year. But, what about the tree? This holiday season you can do your local landfill a big favor by bringing them to one of six designated locations throughout the area for recycling.
“If Christmas trees end up disposed at the landfill, they take up valuable space that could be used for garbage.” said Doug Eubanks, Recycling Coordinator for Sacramento County Waste Management and Recycling. “Recycling doesn’t just save space. A clean tree, one without flocking, gets a new purpose by either being chipped or used as fuel to generate electricity.”
Popular re-use of recycled Christmas trees is mulch. The SMUD location will mulch your tree on site so that you can bag it and take it home with you to use in landscaping or to mix with the soil as a nutrient. All trees to be recycled should be free of flocking, tinsel, decorations, nails and stands. Flocked trees will be accepted but will be taken to the landfill for disposal. Each recycling drop off location will accept up to five trees, so you can make it a neighborhood event!
This annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program is a partnership between Sacramento County, the cities of Sacramento and Folsom, and SMUD. If you can’t make the dates below, you can also recycle your tree by cutting it up and placing it in your curbside green waste cart and it will be picked up on your regular green waste collection day.
Recycle your Christmas tree for free:
SMUD Corporation Yard
6100 Folsom Blvd.
8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 4
Sacramento Recycling and Transfer Station
8491 Fruitridge Road
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, January 4
Also accepting trees Monday, December 26 – Saturday, January 31,
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(from Jackson Highway, south on Florin Perkins Rd, right on Fruitridge Rd)
These locations will take more than five trees:
North Area Recovery Station
4450 Roseville Road
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, January 4 and Sunday, January 5
(I-80 to Watt, left on Roseville Road)
Kiefer Landfill
12701 Kiefer Blvd.
8:30 am to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 4 and Sunday, January 5
(From Jackson Highway – north on Grant Line, right on Kiefer)
Elder Creek Recovery and Transfer
8642 Elder Creek Road
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, January 4
Also accepting trees Monday, December 26 – Saturday, January 31,
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(from Jackson Highway, south on Florin Perkins Rd, left on Elder Creek)
Folsom - Dan Russell Rodeo Arena
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, January 4 and Sunday, January 5
(Folsom City Park, end of Stafford St.)
One tip for next year’s Christmas tree: Buy a live tree that can be planted after the holidays, then you will have a gift that really does continue to give. Learn more about waste management and recycling in Sacramento County.