WOODLAND, CA (MPG) - From Dec. 26 through Jan. 15, Yolo County residents are welcome to recycle up to two holiday trees at no charge at the Yolo County Central Landfill (YCCL), located at 44090 County Road 28H in Woodland, and the Esparto Convenience Center, located at 27075 County Road 19A in Esparto. Tree-cycling turns holiday trees into a valuable, renewable, and recyclable resource as trees are biodegradable and will be sent to the county’s state of the art composting facility to turn these trees back into organic matter. Residents should ensure that trees are free of all ornaments, flocking, tinsel, garland, and lights.

Residents are encouraged to give the gift of time to loved ones this year by assisting with the safe collection and disposal of hazardous waste. Help clean out a storage shed, garage or barn by bringing items such as batteries, bulbs, paints, and cleaners to our weekly household hazardous waste drop off event every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This program is offered at no charge to Yolo County residents and is conveniently located at the Yolo County Central Landfill. An overabundance of hazardous chemicals or old medications can lead to an unsafe home as well as can pose serious environmental risks if stored improperly. If you are assisting someone who is elderly, please also take advantage of our free at home pickup program by calling (530) 666-8856 to schedule collection of hazardous waste at their doorstep. Residents who are 65 years of age or older, or residents with a disability may request this service at no charge year-round.

Millions of tons of electronic waste are generated every year around the holidays. If Santa is generous to you this year in upgrading your phone, tablet, or television, Yolo County Central Landfill is the place to come to responsibly offload your outdated models. Yolo County residents may recycle all electronic waste for free either by segregating all broken and inoperable devices into recycling totes or donating usable working electronics to the Big Blue Barn thrift store. 

Make a resolution to minimize waste by bringing paper plates and paper napkins that can be composted in your curbside organics container. All food waste and food soiled paper can simply get tossed into one bin. Stop by a local thrift shop or ask friends and family to bring their own silverware to use for the holidays. As always, the blue bin is for recycling all your California Redemption Value (CRV) bottles and cans is a plus for the holiday festivities so that you can cash out in the New Year.

Both Yolo County Central Landfill and the Esparto Transfer Station will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 25 and Monday, Jan. 1 in observance of Christmas and New Year’s Day. All other services will be available to the public throughout the holidays including normal landfill operating hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The Esparto Convenience Center will be open as normal every Wednesday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and the Big Blue Barn will be open every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a 50% sale on Saturday, Jan. 18 to kick off the new year sustainably.

Additionally, due to the one-day closure of the landfill on Christmas and New Year’s Day, Waste Management, Inc. services will be delayed one day. If your household’s trash, recycling, or organics collection is typically picked up on Wednesdays, it will instead be picked up on Thursday during these two holiday weeks. Likewise, Thursday and Friday collection will also be delayed one day. For questions about your residential or commercial collection schedule, please contact Waste Management at (530) 662-8748.

Yolo County wants to thank everyone for taking the time to properly recycle, compost and dispose of your waste this holiday season. For more information on the various waste reduction programs offered by the Department of Community Services, Division of Integrated Waste Management, call (530) 666-8856 or visit yolocounty.gov/landfill