Give your Christmas tree the proper holiday send-off. Instead of tossing it in the trash, recycle it. You’ll be doing our local landfills a big favor as well as the local Scouts.

SMUD is once again partnering with local Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts who will be picking up trees on Dec. 30 and Jan. 6, 2024, from their local area and bringing them to SMUD to mulch for free. Several drop off locations have been announced, including one in Folsom and others.

As one of the Scouts main fundraisers of the year, they collect trees from residents in East Sacramento neighborhoods for a donation and SMUD turns them into mulch. This helps fund many community service and learning projects throughout the year for the Cub Scout Pack.

Community members are welcome to bring their trees for recycling themselves to the SMUD Corporation Yard, 6100 Folsom Boulevard, Sacramento on Jan. 6, 2024, between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., as well as at other designated locations.

A total of five locations have been announced to drop off your used Christmas Trees locally this year and are listed below.

Please remove all tinsel, lights, tree stands and nails. Flocked trees will not be accepted.

Folsom – Dan Russell Rodeo ArenaRodeo Park, end of Stafford StreetSaturday, Jan. 6 | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. North Area Recovery Station*4450 Roseville RoadSaturday, Jan. 6 & Sunday, Jan. 7 | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Kiefer Landfill*12701 Kiefer BoulevardSaturday, Jan. 6 & Sunday, Jan. 7 | 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Elder Creek Recovery & Transfer8642 Elder Creek RoadSaturday, Jan. 6 | 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sacramento Recycling & Transfer Station8491 Fruitridge RoadMonday – Saturday, Dec. 26 – Jan. 6 | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Folsom – Dan Russell Rodeo ArenaRodeo Park, end of Stafford StreetSaturday, Jan. 6 | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

*If you have more than five trees, you need a voucher and must follow Sacramento County’s Holiday Tree Recycling Program rules for them to be accepted for free.

SMUD provides mulch for free to its customers for use in landscape projects, gardens, playgrounds, parks and homes throughout the year. To pick up chips, be sure to bring your own tools to load the chips and bags to carry them in or a tarp to cover a pickup load from 6100 Folsom Boulevard, Sacramento.