Don't Leave It for the Trash Guy

Governor Sonny and First Lady Mary Perdue are also big supporters of the Bring One for the Chipper program. Each year, Christmas trees from the Governor’s Mansion are taken to The Home Depot’s Cumberland Parkway store in Atlanta for recycling.

“ Georgia’s program continues to be so successful in due in large part to the dedication of our Keep Georgia Beautiful volunteers and affiliates in participating communities. We are especially proud of our affiliates and their successful efforts to engage 117 Georgia communities and staff 360 collection sites for this year’s effort, which we hope will be our best ever,” said Randy Hartmann, DCA Director – Environmental Programs.

Corporate sponsors The Home Depot, WXIA-TV/11 Alive ( Atlanta’s NBC affiliate) and The Davey Tree Expert Company have joined forces to sponsor one of the state’s largest tree recycling drives included in the “Bring One for the Chipper” program.

In addition to The Home Depot, The Davey Tree Expert Company and WXIA-TV, numerous community sponsors and volunteers are expected to donate money and in-kind service valued at more than $100,000 towards this statewide effort.

Atlanta-area Home Depot stores will serve as community drop-off sites. The Davey Tree Expert Company will again donate use of their equipment to chip the trees collected at the store locations.

Local area residents are invited to bring their trees to the Home Depot drop-off centers on Saturday, January 6, 2007 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Citizens are encouraged to contact The Home Depot closest to them directly to confirm participation and hours of operation.

While supplies last, each citizen that donates a tree for recycling on that day will receive a free dogwood seedling. Seedlings will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Funds from Keep Georgia Beautiful, Georgia Forestry Commission and the state’s Solid Waste Fund wee used to purchase the seedlings.

For more information about the 2007 Bring One for the Chipper program, including drop-off site locations statewide, please call 1-800-CLEANUP or contact one of Georgia’s Keep America Beautiful Affiliates. Information will be provided in English and Spanish. Additional program and collection site Information is also available at www.KeepGeorgiaBeautiful.org.

About Keep Georgia Beautiful: Created in 1978 by Governor George Busbee, Keep Georgia Beautiful (KGB), became the first state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. Housed in the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, its unique structure as a public-private partnership allows KGB to benefit from the resources of citizens in government, corporations, and community organizations. These connections aid us in our mission to build and sustain community environmental activities and behaviors resulting in a more beautiful Georgia. KGB coordinates a number of important environmental efforts, including the Great American Cleanup™ activities in Georgia and the statewide Bring One for the Chipper Christmas tree recycling program.
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) was created in 1977 to serve as an advocate for local governments. DCA operates a host of state and federal grant programs; serves as the state’s lead agency in housing finance and development; promulgates building codes to be adopted by local governments; provides comprehensive planning, technical and research assistance to local governments; and serves as the lead agency for the state’s solid waste reduction efforts. For additional information, please visit www.dca.state.ga.us.