Coweta County for more than two decades has provided a different type of after-Christmas tradition. And the tradition will continue this year as the “Bring One for the Chipper” Christmas tree recycling event gets underway Jan. 7.
Coweta County Public Affairs Director Patricia Palmer said this year marks the 21st year that Coweta has been involved in the statewide recycling program.
“Get your home back in order after Christmas the easy and green way by recycling your live tree,” Palmer said of the statewide effort that has long-included Coweta County. “Last year 161,319 trees were collected to recycle. Ninety-nine local governments participated and 309 collection sites were set up through Georgia. In the 20-plus years of the program 5.7 million Christmas trees have been recycled and diverted from landfills.”
According to the National Christmas Tree Association 98 percent of real Christmas trees are grown on farms throughout all 50 states and Canada, Palmer said. Real trees are a renewable, recyclable resource while artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics usually manufactured in China. On average, for each tree harvested, three seedlings are planted in its place, said Palmer.
Palmer said “Chipper” trees will be recycled into mulch for playgrounds, public beautification projects, wildlife habitat and homeowner landscaping projects. Mulched landscapes help absorb runoff and prevent erosion during times of heavy rainfall.
For more than 20 years, the Bring One for the Chipper event has helped Georgia residents recycling by promoting local drop-off centers for live Christmas trees, Palmer said. And in Coweta, residents can bring their tree to the recreation facility on Temple Avenue (the old fairgrounds) on the official “Bring One for the Chipper” day – Jan. 7 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Coweta residents can also bring their trees to any of the county compactor sites through Jan. 14. Check the hours of the 12 Coweta County compactors sites on the county website at http://www.coweta.ga.us/Index.aspx?page=368 – or just use the link from the home page.
Palmer said event sponsors are proud to offer a token of appreciation for Georgia citizens that participate in the Jan. 7th “Chipper” event.
“Coweta County 4-Hers will help distribute free vegetable seed packets for ‘treecycling’ citizens. It’s a great opportunity to plant a container garden at home or with your children, or save them for community or school gardening projects,” said Palmer.
The annual event is being conducted by the Coweta County 4-H Club and Coweta County Environmental Management. The event is sponsored by Keep Georgia Beautiful, Home Depot, The Davey Tree Company, 11-Alive, Earth911.com and Ferry-Morse Seed Co. have “chipped” in to sponsor the 2012 Bring One for the Chipper event.
