Give Your Holiday Tree a Second Life: Free Recycling Options Across Sacramento County

As the holiday season winds down, Sacramento County residents have multiple free and environmentally friendly options to recycle live Christmas trees, turning them into useful mulch or compost instead of landfill waste.

County officials urge residents not to place trees on curbs or roadsides, noting that improperly discarded trees create hazards and limit recycling opportunities.

What to Know Before You Go

To ensure trees can be recycled:

• Remove all decorations, including lights, tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands, and tree skirts
• Flocked trees are not accepted at recycling drop-off sites
• Secure trees properly during transport

Free Holiday Tree Drop-Off Locations

Sacramento County Facilities

Saturday, Jan. 3 & Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026

• Kiefer Landfill
  12701 Kiefer Blvd.
  8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• North Area Recovery Station
  4450 Roseville Road
  8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Note: Loads of more than five trees require a voucher. Nonprofit and community groups can request vouchers by submitting the Annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program Application. Questions can be directed to SacGreenTeam@SacCounty.gov.

Other Local Drop-Off Options

Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026

• SMUD Corporation Yard
  6100 Folsom Blvd.
  8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  Trees will be mulched on-site, with free mulch available to participants.
• Elder Creek Recovery & Transfer Station
  8642 Elder Creek Road
  8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Sacramento Recycling & Transfer Station
  8491 Fruitridge Road
  8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  Also accepting trees Dec. 26 through Jan. 5, Monday–Saturday.

Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

• Folsom – Dan Russell Rodeo Arena (Rodeo Park)
  End of Stafford Street
  9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Curbside Recycling Option

Residents served by Sacramento County’s curbside Organics collection can recycle live-cut holiday trees at home:

• Cut the tree into pieces that fit inside the Organics cart
• Make sure the lid closes completely
• Place the cart out on your next scheduled Organics pickup day

Flocked trees should be cut up and placed in the Garbage cart, with the lid fully closed.

Recycling holiday trees not only keeps neighborhoods clean, officials say, but also helps return valuable organic material back into local soil—giving each tree a productive second life long after the holidays end.