Trees recycled through SMUD will be used to provide free wood chips to customers. Designed by Freepik, www.freepik.com

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - 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.

SMUD is once again partnering with local Cub Scout Pack 128. Cub Scouts will pick up trees on Jan. 3, 2026, from their local area and bring them to SMUD to be mulched for free, which will then be used for SMUD’s free wood chip program offered to residential customers.

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

Community members are also welcome to bring their trees to the SMUD Corporation Yard, 6100 Folsom Blvd, on Jan. 3, 2026, between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., or to the following designated tree recycling locations:

North Area Recovery Station, 4450 Roseville Road, will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 4.

Kiefer Landfill, 12701 Kiefer Blvd, will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3 & Sunday, Jan. 4.

Elder Creek Recovery & Transfer, 8642 Elder Creek Road, will be open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3. 

Sacramento Recycling & Transfer Station, 8491 Fruitridge Road, will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday until Jan. 5.  

Folsom - Dan Russell Rodeo Arena, Rodeo Park, end of Stafford St., will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10.

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

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 wood chips for free to its customers for use in landscape projects, gardens, playgrounds and parks. To pick up wood 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. Wood chips can be picked up from 6100 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.