From Saturday, October 3 to Sunday, October 18, 2026, the SMITOM Nord Seine-et-Marne is celebrating the Living Soil Festival. During this event, wood chips from shredded branches will be made available free of charge to users at all SMITOM recycling centers, with the exception of the Coulommiers facility, which is currently undergoing renovations.
This initiative is presented as an ideal opportunity to give branches a second life and naturally improve soil health. Wood chips, derived from shredded branches, are a natural material with numerous benefits. Easy to use, they help retain soil moisture, reduce watering needs, and gradually enrich the soil.
When used as mulch at the base of plants, it protects the soil, conserves moisture, and limits water evaporation, thus reducing the need for watering. Spread around trees, shrubs, and flowerbeds, it gradually decomposes, helping to improve soil structure and quality. It can also be added to a compost bin as a source of dry, brown material to complement kitchen waste, balancing the compost and promoting good decomposition.
The operation is exclusively for users with an e-badge or a recycling center access card. Participants must bring their own containers (bags, bins...) and a shovel to help themselves.
