SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): As Bulloch County residents begin to take down their decorations and Christmas trees, Keep-Statesboro-Bulloch Beautiful (KSBB) is holding two recycling drives aimed at turning holiday waste into good for the community.

Bring one for the Chipper is an annual event that has been held across Georgia for over 30 years, according to KSBB coordinator Timeka Shannon.

“Over the past 30 years, we’ve recycled over 6 million trees,” Shannon said.

Those interested in donating their old live trees can do so by dropping it off at Statesboro Public Works between now and Jan. 9, before the big event on Jan. 10.

“On January 10th, we will have a live chipping event at the Food World located on Northside Drive West,” Shannon said. “We will be offering free trade seedlings and mulch to participants that want to chip their live tree.”

Trees donated will be turned into mulch, biofuel, or fish habitats, according to Shannon.

The event on the 10th will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Another drive, Operation Safe Disposal, is also underway through the city’s Public Works.

“We also have a roll off located at Public Works for residents to bring their large boxes and gift wrap from the holiday events as a safe way to dispose of those as opposed to placing them at your curbside,” Shannon said. “You can bring them to one of three locations across Statesboro: at our Statesboro Fire Station 2, the Statesboro Police Department, as well as Public Works.”

The waste collected will be safely disposed of at the landfill.

Shannon said this drive is being held in hopes of stopping crime.

“It helps protect our residents from potential burglars who might see that you’ve gotten some new holiday gifts.”

Courtesy: www.wsav.com