Recycle your Christmas tree, get free mulch

It’s the day after Christmas – and that holiday tree is not getting any fresher.

If you celebrated with a fresh Christmas tree, tree farmers thank you. And you have environmentally friendly options of what to do with that cut tree when it comes time to say goodbye.

A real tree (made of wood and leaves, not plastic) can be recycled into mulch for your garden or local parks.

The City of Sacramento as well as Sacramento and Yolo counties turn old trees into mulch that can help save water as well as add nutrients to soil.

For Sacramento residents with curbside trash pick-up, trees can be left in the street or cut up and placed in the green waste container. “The Claw” will pick up trees through Feb. 1. Please keep trees out of bikes lanes and away from storm drains, the city says.

Remember to remove any metal (including nails and tree stands), tinsel, lights or ornaments. For street pick-up, larger trees should be cut into 5-foot lengths or shorter. Flocked trees will be accepted.

Sacramento puts a limit of five trees for holiday street pick-up; if more than five, the load has to be taken to Elder Creek, Kiefer Landfill and the North Area Recovery Station, and that needs some advance preparation. According to Sacramento County, loads in excess of five trees must be issued a voucher and comply with the County’s Annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program requirements in order for the trees to be accepted at no charge. Email SacGreenTeam@SacCounty.gov for more information.

In Sacramento County, several free drop-off events are scheduled:

— 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3; SMUD Corporation Yard, 6100 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento. Get your tree mulched for free and take home the mulch to use in your garden. Bring large trash bags or containers to cart home the mulch.

— 8 a.m.-6 p.m Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 3 and 4; North Area Recovery Station, 4450 Roseville Road, North Highlands.

— 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 3 and 4; Kiefer Landfill, 12701 Kiefer Blvd., Rancho Cordova. Directions: From Jackson Highway, go north on Grant Line, then right on Kiefer Boulevard.

— 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3; Elder Creek Recovery and Transfer, 8642 Elder Creek Road, Sacramento. Directions: From Jackson Highway, go south on Florin Perkins Road, then left on Elder Creek Road.

— 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3; Sacramento Recycling & Transfer Station, 8491 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento. This site is also accepting trees weekdays through Jan. 4, excluding New Year’s Day. Directions: From Jackson Highway, go south on Florin Perkins Road, then right on Fruitridge Road.

— 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3; Dan Russell Rodeo Arena, Rodeo Park, 200 Stafford St., Folsom.

For more details: https://bit.ly/3YSEqQP

West Sacramento residents can recycle their trees curbside through Jan 22. Just place the tree next to the organics cart on your regular pick-up day.

Help scouts while they help recycle your tree. Cub Scout Pack 49 in West Sacramento is again available (for a donation) to come to your home and pick up your tree for recycling. They plan to pick up trees on two weekends: Dec. 27-28 and Jan. 3-4. Email Pack49Trees@gmail.com for more information and to schedule pick up.

Yolo County residents have two drop-off options:

– WM’s free tree recycling bin will be open daily from 7 a.m to 3 p.m., Dec. 26 through Jan. 9 at 1951 South River Road, West Sacramento.

– Yolo County Central Landfill offers free tree recycling daily from Dec. 26 through Jan. 15 (excluding New Year’s Day), at 44090 County Road 28H, Woodland.