County Landfill and Convenience Sites Accepting Live Christmas Trees

 

For Immediate Release:  December 30, 2025

 

Smithfield, NC - When the holiday season comes to a close, live Christmas trees don’t have to go to waste. Johnston County residents have several options for putting them to good use. The County’s landfill and solid waste convenience centers accept discarded trees - the landfill year-round and the convenience sites through Feb. 15. Just be sure to remove all lights and ornaments.

Eventually, the trees end up in the landfill’s yard waste disposal area, where they are ground into mulch, says Brian Beasley, Johnston County's director of solid waste. “We use our mulch for various applications - from erosion control to stabilizing driving conditions in the landfill working area,” he says.

The landfill is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays. From October 1 through April 30, the County’s convenience sites are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays. They are closed Sundays and Wednesdays.

The landfill is located at 680 County Home Road, Smithfield. Addresses for the 12 convenience sites are online at johnstonnc.gov/solidwaste/.

Both the landfill and convenience sites are closed on major holidays, including New Year’s Day.

Towns differ

Live in one of Johnston County’s 11 towns? Check with your town, as they handle live Christmas trees in different ways.

Archer Lodge, for example, does not offer trash collection and recommends residents take discarded trees to the nearby County convenience site at 15031 Buffalo Road.

Smithfield residents, on the other hand, can place live trees curbside for pickup on their regular trash collection day.

Eco-Friendly Options

If you want your tree to live on as more than mulch, consider these options:

If you have space, cut up your tree and add the pieces to your compost bin. Needles and small branches break down and add organic material to compost.

You can also repurpose your tree as wildlife habitat. Placing an undecorated tree in your yard can provide shelter for birds and small animals during the winter months as it naturally decomposes. If you have a pond - or know someone who does - a live tree can also make good habitat for fish.