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Trees go from decorations to environmental aids
Bring One for the Chipper
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Georgia Forestry Commission employees, including David Duke (foreground) from the Midway office, hand out saplings to people who bring in their Christmas trees. - photo by Photo by Frenchi Jones
More than 200 Liberty County residents recycled their Christmas trees Saturday at the old hospital site during Keep Liberty Beautiful's Bring One for the Chipper.

April Causer said her family decided to bring their tree to be chipped after her children said they wanted to burn the tree in the back yard.

"I told them about this, and they were all for it," Causer said. "They wanted to help out the environment and get the free seedling."

Brewer's Christmas Tree Farm, Georgia Forestry Commission and Georgia Power crews were on site during the tree-trade, offering fresh mulch and a variety of tree-seedlings in exchange for the used Christmas trees.

Sara Ann Swida, executive director for KLB, said she hopes the event educates and motives more people to take care of the environment.

"It teaches people that we can recycle the things we use," she said. "Trees are a great, reusable, sustainable resource and we want to promote that."

By recycling Christmas trees, Swida said, people are "taking something that's been a beautiful holiday decoration and making it in a fashion where it can be used in a helpful way and to help benefit other plants."

"It's just a great way to get more trees planted in our community," she said.

The left over mulch created from the tree chippings will be used for landscaping. Some trees were claimed by pond owners for fish habitats.


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