Christmas trees have become such a significant part of our Christmas festivities. But when the holidays are over, what do you do with that special tree? Give a gift to nature this holiday season. After Christmas, please remember to recycle your Christmas tree at the Bring One for the Chipper event. For more than 10 years, area residents have brought in their undecorated Christmas trees to the "chipper" to make useful mulch. On Jan. 3, we will chip up trees again at the old hospital site at the corner U.S. Highway 84 and Fraser Drive in Hinesville. The event will last from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bring One for the Chipper is part of a statewide effort that began in 1991. Keep Georgia Beautiful spearheads the project with state corporate partners Home Depot, The Davey Tree Expert Company and WXIA-TV. Locally, this event is sponsored by Keep Liberty Beautiful, the Georgia Power Company, the Georgia Forestry Commission, Brewer’s Christmas Tree Farm, and the DPW Environmental Division at Fort Stewart.

Why do we do it?

There are many good reasons:

• To promote awareness about the benefits of trees;

• To raise awareness about environmental concerns and solutions;

• To increase citizen involvement in solutions that reduce solid waste;

• To support the state yard trimmings disposal ban by recycling these trees instead of putting them in landfills;

• To produce useful mulch for home and community projects for soil enhancement and erosion control;

• To give out tree seedlings for planting in exchange for recycled trees to beautify our community.

Between Dec. 26 and Jan. 3, we will have 13 locations around the county for turning in trees. At our main drop-off site, we will have our chipping day from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3. This is a fun day for everyone, so please drop by and bring your tree. All participants will receive a tree seedling while supplies last. Mulch will also be available on a first-come first-serve basis. Please remember to remove all decorations from your tree before dropping it off. Those decorations can really be a problem when the trees are going through the chipper.

If you are unable to join us Jan. 3, you can also deposit your tree in the designated location at the old hospital site or at any Liberty County convenience center or recycling drop-off center.

• 25 South Dairy Road (SR 196W, Gum Branch);

• 156 Pate Rogers Road (Fleming);

• 836 Limerick Road (near Lake George);

• 64 Left Field Road (Hwy 84, Miller Park);

• 619 JV 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 Hwy 84);

• 941 E G Miles Parkway (SR 196W at Training Center);

• 200 Talmadge Road (behind Walthourville City Hall);

• and 4000 Coastal Hwy (Hwy 17 in Riceboro).

We can also supply trees for local ponds to be used as fish habitat. If you would like to get some trees for your pond, give me a call at 368-4888.

This program has significant environmental benefits for our county and the 120 other Georgia communities that participate each year. It also helps local government comply with state regulations that prohibit the disposal of yard trimmings in lined municipal landfills. The Chipper is a simple program that is good for all of us. Please give this gift to nature this year. It is one present that will not need any wrapping. Merry Christmas to you.

Win-dex Business Awards: Nominate attractive businesses in our community for the Win-dex Awards. The Win-dex Awards recognize winning businesses that look so good, they have a "streak-free shine." We will accept nominations for this quarter’s awards through Dec. 31. For information or for a nomination form, contact Keep Liberty County Beautiful at 368-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com. Forms are also available at the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce office.