How to recycle your Christmas tree in the Sacramento area
Christmas Day has come and gone and now starts the annual tradition of taking your tree down and disposing of it. How to recycle your tree depends on where you live.
In the City of Elk Grove. Yard waste is now picked up weekly as opposed to every other week in past years.
Four Free Options For Recycling Your Live Holiday Tree in Elk Grove
- Curbside Collection: Leave your holiday tree curbside next to your green waste cart by 6:00am the day of your weekly pickup. If your tree is taller than six feet, please cut it into 3-foot or shorter pieces.
- Green Waste Cart: After cutting your tree into 3-foot or shorter pieces, place those pieces in your green waste cart. Make sure the trimmed pieces fit completely into the cart with the lid closed.
- Self-Haul to Elder Creek: Take your holiday tree, free of charge, to the Elder Creek Transfer and Recovery Station at 8642 Elder Creek Road, Sacramento, between Florin-Perkins Road and Watt Avenue.
- Self-Haul to SWCC: Take your holiday tree, free of charge to the Special Waste Collection Center at 9255 Disposal Lane, Elk Grove 95624. Open Sunday to Wednesday 9:00am to 4:00pm.
In the City of Sacramento
City of Sacramento residential yard waste customers can place trees in the street for pickup as part of the City’s Leaf Season service. Leaf Season collection occurs from November through January. The last day that trees, or any yard waste, can be placed out on the street for collection is January 23, 2023. Please keep trees and yard waste out of bike lanes and away from drains.
Residents can find their estimated collection dates on our calendar.
Holiday Tree Recycling Guidelines:
- Trees should be clean of all lights, tinsel, tree stands, nails, and decorations.
- Flocked trees will be accepted.
- The city will collect up to 5 trees. Loads in excess of 5 trees will only be accepted at Elder Creek, Kiefer Landfill, and the North Area Recovery Station
If you miss the citywide tree collection, you can put your tree in your organic waste container. Please cut the tree into pieces that will fit completely into the container with the lid closed.
Free Drop-off Events for Residents who do not receive City service:
On-street tree collection is for residential customers who receive leaf season service from the City.
Businesses, residents who live in apartments, on private streets or in gated communities should use one of the free drop-off events listed below or find another legal disposal method for their tree. Improper disposal of holiday trees on City streets is considered illegal dumping. Please note the specific dates and times for free tree drop-off.
Recycle your holiday tree!
Give your holiday tree the proper send-off and do our local landfills a big favor by recycling it.
Bring your tree to the SMUD Corporation Yard at 6100 Folsom Blvd. on Saturday, Jan. 7 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and we’ll mulch it for free.
Trees can be recycled for free at the following locations. Please remove all tinsel, lights, tree stands, and nails. Flocked trees are accepted at all locations.
North Area Recovery Station
4450 Roseville Road | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 7 & Sunday, Jan.8
Kiefer Landfill
12701 Kiefer Blvd. | 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan.7 & Sunday, Jan. 8
Elder Creek Recovery and Transfer
8642 Elder Creek Road | 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 7
Sacramento Recycling & Transfer Station
8491 Fruitridge Road | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 7
Also accepting trees Dec. 26 – Jan. 7, Monday – Saturday | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Folsom – Dan Russell Rodeo Arena
Rodeo Park, end of Stafford St. | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, Jan.7
Sacramento County
CURBSIDE ORGANICS COLLECTION OF HOLIDAY TREES
County residents can recycle their live holiday tree (all tinsel, lights, decorations, nails and stands removed) by cutting it up and putting it in the curbside Organics cart. Please make sure the lid will close. The cart will be emptied on your regular Organics collection day.
Flocked trees can be cut up and placed in the curbside Garbage cart for collection – ensure lid will close.
Please do not put holiday trees on curbs or roadsides!
Recycle Your Holiday Tree, January 7 & 8, 2023
Give your holiday tree the proper send-off and recycle it into a new life as beneficial mulch or compost – for free!
Requirements:
- Trees must have all tinsel, lights, decorations, nails and stands removed.
- Flocked trees are not accepted for recycling.
- Please ensure transported holiday trees are properly secured during transport.
Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, Free Mulching Event
Residents can bring holiday trees to be mulched for free:
- SMUD Corporation Yard (Read the December SMUD Connections newsletter)
- 6100 Folsom Blvd., (just off Hwy 50)
- 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Mulched tree offered free to customer
Free Drop-Off Holiday Tree Recycling Events Flyer
SACRAMENTO COUNTY LOCATIONS
Saturday, January 7 and Sunday, January 8, 2023
Residents can recycle holiday trees for free at:
- Kiefer Landfill*
- 12701 Kiefer Blvd. (Jackson Hwy, north on Grant Line Road, right on Kiefer Blvd)
- 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- North Area Recovery Station*
- 4450 Roseville Rd. (Hwy 80, north on Watt Ave., left on Roseville Road)
- 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
*Loads in excess of 5 trees must be issued a voucher for the trees to be accepted at no charge. Nonprofit civic groups and community organizations can obtain vouchers by submitting the Annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program Application Form. For more information, email SacGreenTeam@SacCounty.gov.
OTHER LOCAL DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Residents can also recycle holiday trees for free at:
- Elder Creek Recovery and Transfer Station
- 8642 Elder Creek Rd (Jackson Hwy, south on Florin Perkins Rd., left on Elder Creek Rd.)
- 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Sacramento Recycling & Transfer Station
- 8491 Fruitridge Rd (Jackson Hwy, south on Florin Perkins Rd., right on Fruitridge Rd.)
- 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Also accepting trees Dec. 26 – Jan. 7, Monday – Saturday | 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Folsom – Dan Russell Rodeo Arena Rodeo Park
- Located at the end of Stafford St., next to the arena
- 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
You must log in to post a comment.