As Gwinnett County citizens gaze upon their beautiful live Christmas trees over the holidays, you might wonder what happens to that tree once all the presents have been opened and the last holiday carols have been sung.
Thanks to Keep America Beautiful affiliates like Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful (GC&B), the decision is an easy one. By dropping off their live Christmas tree at a designated collection site, Atlantans can breathe new life into their holiday decorations.
One of the largest “treecycling” events in Georgia, Gwinnett County’s Bring One for the Chipper transforms live Christmas trees into mulch, which will soon line the pathways and flower beds of local Gwinnett County parks.
With the help of its partners at Jackson EMC, Walton EMC, and the Gwinnett County Departments of Transportation, Parks & Recreation and Fire, GC&B will collect live trees between Dec. 26, 2023 and January 24, 2024 at select fire stations throughout the county.
They will then be transported to Lawrenceville’s Bethesda Park for Bring One for the Chipper 2024 on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
“Bring One for the Chipper has become an annual tradition for countless families, whether dropping off their trees, volunteering at the event, or both,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “The main purpose of this undertaking is to divert as many live Christmas trees from the landfill as possible. Instead of decomposing slowly, they will find a new, immediate purpose of beautifying our local parks, enhancing their enjoyment by our local residents and visitors.”
To be accepted for treecycling, live Christmas trees must be free of lights, tinsel, decorations and tree stands. Artificial trees will not be accepted at Bring One for the Chipper 2024 drop-off sites, which include:
Buford
- Fire Station 14, 1600 Highway 23, 30518
- Fire Station 24, 2735 Mall of GA Blvd., 30519
- Fire Station 29, 2800 Thompson Mill Rd., 30519
Dacula
- Fire Station 27, 2825 Old Fountain Rd., 30019
Duluth
- Fire Station 5, 3001 Old Norcross Rd., 30096
- Fire Station 7, 3343 Bunton Rd., 30096
- Fire Station 19, 3275 N. Berkeley Lake Rd., 30096
Grayson
- Fire Station 8, 2295 Brannan Rd., 30017
Hoschton
- Fire Station 18, 1515 Mineral Springs Rd., 30548
Lawrenceville
- Fire Station 9, 1900 Five Forks-Trickum Rd., 30044
- Fire Station 10, 1131 Rock Springs Rd. 30043
- Fire Station 20, 1801 Cruse Rd., 30044
- Fire Station 25, 3575 Lawrenceville Hwy., 30044
- Fire Station 31, 1061 Collins Hill Rd. 30043
Lilburn
- Fire Station 2, 12 Harmony Grove Rd., 30047
- Fire Station 3, 4394 Five Forks-Trickum Rd., 30047
- Fire Station 22, 2180 Stone Dr., 30047
Loganville
- Fire Station 28, 3725 Rosebud Rd, 30052
- Fire Station 30, 1052 Ozora Rd., 30052
Norcross
- Fire Station 1, 165 Lawrenceville St., 30071
- Fire Station 11, 5885 Live Oak Pkwy., 30093
- Fire Station 23, 4355 Steve Reynolds Blvd., 30093
Peachtree Corners
- Fire Station 4, 5550 Spalding Dr., 30092
Snellville
- Fire Station 6, 3890 Johnson Dr., 30039
- Fire Station 12, 2815 Lenora Church Rd., 30078
Sugar Hill
- Fire Station 26, 6075 Suwanee Dam Rd., 30518
Suwanee
- Fire Station 21, 474 Old Peachtree Rd., 30024
During last year’s Bring One for the Chipper event, GC&B collected and chipped live trees into more than 21 tons of mulch.
Anyone who wants to volunteer for the Bring One for the Chipper 2024 event on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 7:30 a.m. to11 a.m. must be 14 years of age or older.
They can include individuals and families, school clubs, civic groups, companies and neighborhood associations.
To volunteer, interested parties must register online at Volunteer Gwinnett – Gwinnett | Gwinnett County. Questions may be directed to gwinnettcb@gwinnettcb.org or 770-822-5187.
