Wake County is encouraging residents to embrace the spirit of giving after Christmas ends by donating their undecorated live Christmas trees to the Happy Trails Christmas Tree Recycling Program between Dec. 26, 2025, and Jan. 31, 2026.
“The Happy Trails Program is a win-win for everyone,” said Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas. “Through this program, residents can dispose of their trees for free, reduce landfill waste and help us improve the County’s parks. It’s also a way for residents to give back to the community, either by donating or volunteering.”
Since 2012, residents have donated nearly 60,000 trees to the Happy Trails program, which has produced about 1,156 tons of aromatic, nutrient-rich mulch that has been used to beautify and fortify Wake County Park trails. During the 2024-25 campaign, there were about 3,800 trees donated and turned into 83 tons of mulch. School groups, Scout troops and other volunteer groups have also assisted in spreading the mulch along the trails…