The City of Jacksonville and Keep Jacksonville Beautiful (KJB) will partner with Greenscape of Jacksonville to host the America Recycles Day paper collection and free tree giveaway 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., January 17, 2026, in Parking Lot 18 at the University of North Florida. (Across from Hodges Stadium 1 South UNF Dr.).
This is the 16th year that KJB has hosted the event with partner Republic Services, and the fourth consecutive year it has partnered with Greenscape, which will provide up to 1,800 trees on a first-come, first-serve basis as part of the city’s Arbor Day celebration. A variety of 3-gallon-sized trees will be given away.
This will be a drive-through event in which the public may drop off up to two (2) 30-gallon bags or boxes of paper documents and then pop their trunk for up to three free trees per car.
Longtime sponsor Republic Services will collect the paper and haul it off site for shredding.
During last year’s event, held January 18 in Parking Lot E of Ever Bank Stadium, 5.45 tons of paper was collected on site, and 2,000 trees were given away by 85 volunteers who donated a whopping 410.50 hours of their time. Their hourly volunteer value, based on estimates by Keep America Beautiful, amounted to $14,244.35.
Volunteers are needed at this year’s event to help collect paper from vehicles and distribute trees. Volunteers are also needed the day before the event to help stage trees.
For more information, call Keep Jacksonville Beautiful at 904-255-8276, or Greenscape at 904-398-5757.