I wish Christmas was every day of the year, but, sadly, it does not work like that. I still like to stretch the Christmas season out as long as possible, but I do not like the “undecorating” part. It is not nearly as fun as decorating! But there is one good thing about the post-Christmas season: You can join over 100,000 other Georgians by treecycling your live Christmas tree. On Jan. 10, we will “chip” all those trees into useful mulch or give them away for fish habitat in local ponds. So this year’s mulched Christmas trees can be gifts that keep on giving. Live trees are renewable resources, so you can feel good about using a live tree at Christmas as long as you remember to turn it in for recycling after the holiday. “Bring One for the Chipper” is part of a statewide effort that began in 1991. For over 20 years, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation has spearheaded this state project with several state corporate partners — Home Depot, The Davey Tree Expert Company, Ferry Morse Seed Company and WXIA-TV. Locally, this annual event is sponsored by Keep Liberty Beautiful, the Georgia Power Company, the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Liberty County Public Works Department and Brewer’s Christmas Tree Farm.
“After more than 20 years, ‘Bring One for the Chipper’ remains one of our most popular programs,” said Sarah Visser, executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation. “The trip to drop off the tree is a cherished holiday tradition for many Georgians and one that starts the new year off right, focusing on making easy, sustainable choices.”
Since 1991, “Bring One for the Chipper,” has collected over 6 million trees for beneficial reuse. Locally, we have been participating in the event for over a decade now, and we are proud to be part of such a great tradition.
About 20 percent of the stuff in landfills already is organic, according to epa.gov, and could have been composted or disposed of more effectively. Let’s not add thousands of Christmas trees to that.
Through Jan. 10, you can turn in your tree at any of the following locations around the county.
• 25 S. Dairy Road (SR 196W, GumBranch)
• 156 Pate Rogers Road (Fleming)
• 836 Limerick Road (near Lake George)
• 64 Left Field Road (Highway 84, Miller Park)
• 619 J V Road (west of Hinesville)
• 50 Isle of Wight Road (Midway area)
• 344 Fort Morris Road (East End near Sunbury)
• 111 Carter Road (behind Poole’s Deli)
• 129 Sandy Run (off Highway 84)
• 941 E.G. Miles Parkway (SR 196W at Training Center)
• Walthourville Public Works site
• 4000 Coastal Highway (Highway 17 in Riceboro)
• Fort Stewart PX
• Liberty County Health Center (1113 E. Oglethorpe Highway in Hinesville)
Hinesville residents can have their undecorated trees picked up by OMI.
We will have our annual chipping day from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Health Center. The Mulch Day is a fun day for everyone, so please drop by and bring your tree. All participants will receive a tree seedling and Ferry Morse seeds in exchange for each tree brought in, while our supplies last. Remember: all trees dropped off must be undecorated and free of any binding. Those decorations can really be a problem when the trees are going through the chipper. Thank you for joining us in getting Christmas trees to a “mulch” better place.