Transform Your Christmas Tree Into Mulch At Tree Recycling Event In Cobb

COBB COUNTY, GA — Around this time of year, many Cobb County residents are taking down their Christmas lights and stripping their trees of ornaments, tinsel and other decorations. You may be wondering where you can get rid of your Christmas tree, and Cobb County has two events this weekend to do just that.

Keep Cobb Beautiful and Keep Smyrna Beautiful, affiliates of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, are once again participating in the annual "Bring One for the Chipper" live Christmas tree recycling program.

Cobb residents can bring their live Christmas trees — stripped of all ornaments, tinsel and other decorations — to one store Saturday, Jan. 8 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.:

• The Home Depot, 2450 Cumberland Parkway SE, Atlanta

Residents can also head to the following Cobb locations anytime through Saturday to be recycled. No "flocked" trees will be accepted:

• The Home Depot
  • 2350 Dallas Highway, Marietta
  • 4101 Roswell Road NE, Marietta
  • 3605 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta
  • 1655 Shiloh Road, Kennesaw
  • 449 Roberts Court NW, Kennesaw
  • 1062 Richard Sailors Parkway, Powder Springs
  • 1200 East-West Connector, Austell
  • 3355 Cobb Parkway, Acworth
• Fullers Park, 3499 Robinson Road, Marietta

The trees will be recycled into mulch for playgrounds, city and county landscaping projects, and individual home use, and will also be used to provide habitats for fish and other animals. In addition, Christmas tree recycling programs like Bring One for the Chipper support wider eco-friendly holiday efforts.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, for each tree harvested, one to three seedlings are planted in its place. Nearly 350 million Christmas trees currently grow on U.S. farms, absorbing carbon dioxide, emitting fresh oxygen, stabilizing soil, protecting water supplies, and providing refuge for wildlife.

"Clean, green spaces benefit our communities," said Natalie Johnston-Russell, executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation. "Bring One for the Chipper allows people to give new purpose to trees that brought them joy throughout the holiday season. We're grateful for the volunteers and participants across the state that make this transformation possible each year."