By SALLIE SATTERTHWAITE

Staff Writer

When the lights are gone, the ornaments stored and the garlands furled, Fayette County Christmas trees can still have a useful purpose, says Keep Fayette Beautiful director Deeva Boleman.

On Jan. 9, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., residents may turn trees in at five recycling sites to be reduced to mulch for use by local governments and schools, Boleman said. Some will even be sunk into local lakes to form fish habitats.

In a win-win-win situation, participants in this year's "Bring One for the Chipper" program will receive dogwood and red maple seedlings for ex-Christmas trees, while supplies last, thus renewing natural resources and beautifying the community.

Moreover, the project spares landfill space. More than 6,500 trees were collected in last year's "Chipper" event. "Had these trees been landfilled," Boleman said, "they would have taken up approximately 1,186 cubic yards of landfill space. Instead they were re-used right here in the community."

"Real" Christmas trees as opposed to the artificial kind are the right choice from beginning to end of their careers, say environmentalists. Young trees, mass-planted in Christmas tree farms, actually generate more oxygen than mature trees as they grow. The industry provides an especially important livelihood to small farmers. And in the end, the application of mulch in urban landscapes helps conserve water and returns the trees' nutrients to the soil for the next generation of green growth.

"Bring One for the Chipper" is a statewide program, coordinated by Keep Georgia Beautiful through the state's Department of Community Affairs. Statewide sponsors include Home Depot, Davey Tree, Georgia-Pacific, Georgia Power, and 11 Alive WXIA-TV.

The program is coordinated locally by Keep Fayette Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. Local sponsors include the county Extension Service, McRae Communications, Fayetteville Home Depot, EPI-Environmental Partners, Harp's Farm Market and Nursery, Kroger and Kedron Village Shopping Center, the City of Peachtree City, the Town of Tyrone, the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, and the Fayette County Water System.

Boleman said the project has become larger each year, and volunteers are still needed at all recycling sites. Volunteers remove trees from vehicles, bag and distribute seedlings, and tally the number of trees collected.

They should dress warmly and bring a pair of work gloves. Each will receive a T-shirt designed especially for the event.

It's the volunteers who make the program work, Boleman said. For more information, or to volunteer, call Keep Fayette Beautiful, 770-460-5730, ext. 447 or 134.

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