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Union County Transfer Station is now accepting Christmas trees for the "Bring one for the Chipper 2006" Christmas tree recycling event. Harold Watkins, a worker at the Transfer Station says, "We haven't received many trees yet, but we expect many more during the next week."

The discarded live Christmas trees (not artificial) will be chipped into mulch or used as a wildlife habitat.

Lamar Paris, Commissioner of Union County, proclaimed Saturday, January 7, 2006 as "Bring One for the Chipper Day" in Union County.

People that bring trees for the chipper on Saturday, January 7, will receive a free dogwood seedling (while supplies last).

Since 1991 "Bring on for the Chipper" has collected over 4 million trees and more than a million seedlings have been given to recyclers. Many of these seedlings are now tall, sturdy trees that enhance our environment.

The program produces tangible environmental benefits while assisting local governments in complying with Georgia 's yard trimming ban implemented in September 1996. The ban prohibits the disposal of yard trimmings in lined municipal solid waste landfills.

The program is statewide with 300 collection sites. Roxi Konnick, of Keep Georgia Beautiful, is coordinator of the event. Konnick says, "Old trees that were otherwise useless can now be given a new life as mulch or wildlife habitats."

Sponsors of the event include the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Keep Georgia Beautiful Program, The Home Depot, The Davey Tree Expert Company,
11 Alive (Atlanta's NBC Affiliate), Union County Government, the City of Blairsville, the Georgia Forestry Commission District 2, the U.S. Forestry Wildlife Division, and the Department of Natural Resources Fish and Game Division.