Dawson County residents can recycle their Christmas trees on Saturday during the annual “Bring One for the Chipper” program.

The event is set for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Dawsonville Home Depot, 801 Hwy. 400 South, though trees will be accepted beforehand.

The project is being coordinated by Keep Dawson County Beautiful with support from Sawnee EMC, local boy scouts, 4-H, Davey Trees and Keep Georgia Beautiful.

The project encourages everyone to “go green” by recycling their Christmas trees, according to Cathy Brooks, coordinator of Keep Dawson County Beautiful.

Clark Beusse, co-chair of Keep Dawson County Beautiful’s board of directors, said it is an “excellent program,” one that helps folks get rid of their Christmas trees in an “environmentally-friendly way.”

There is no cost to recycle a tree and participants can receive a free dogwood seedling while supplies last.

Celebrating 19 years in Georgia, the program turns trees into mulch for playgrounds, public beautification projects, wildlife habitats and homeowner landscaping projects.

Since its inception, the program has recycled more than 4.8 million Christmas trees.

All decorations should be removed, Beusse said, and no trees will be accepted after 2 p.m. 

“This event is a win-win situation,” Beusse said.

“Bringing a tree to recycle is just as environmentally friendly as planting a new one. “

E-mail Elizabeth Hamilton at elizabeth@dawsonnews.com.