Every year most Christmas trees wind up deteriorating in landfills when they could be recycled and put to good use. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District is one of a number of agencies in the Central Valley that will grind trees into mulch, and use it for landscaping according to spokesman Mark Frizzell. FRIZZELL :10—The chip pile at SMUD is available and open to the public five days for people to come in and get the wood chips and use them in their landscape. Recycling Christmas trees also lessens the possibility of spreading a disease known as “pitch canker”. Doctor Tom Gordon, a Plant Pathologist, at U-C Davis says the disease is spread by insects which feast on trees on the curb waiting for the garbage collector. Gordon recommends recycling but says if a tree is headed to the landfill keeping it indoors as long as possible diminishes the possibility of disease. GORDON :05—Put the tree out in a timely manner and to do it just before it’s going to be picked up. Gordon says “pitch canker” is more often found in forested areas like the foothills of the Sierra. Bob Hensley KXJZ News.