What to do with your Christmas Tree today
When the lights are taken down and the ornaments are packed away, Santa Rosa County would like you to recycle your Christmas tree.
As a part of an annual program by the county’s recycling department, the Christmas tree recycling program provides residents a clean, safe way to dispose trees at no charge. The county discourages burning trees because of the dry weather patterns the area has experienced this year.
“Burning trees is a hazard,” said Barry Ballard, a horticulture technician with the county Extension Service. “It’s better to either recycle them or use them in natural landscapes in your yard as mulch or wildlife habitat. They can be used in other green and environmentally friendly ways, also.”
Ballard said homeowners can use dead trees in various ways for home landscape uses such as mulch, which can control weeds, cool soil, and help conserve water in the soil.
Christmas trees recycled will be chipped into landscape mulch and offered free to the public.
“The mulch will be available at no charge,” said Floyd Rentz, the county’s recycling manager. “Trees are not as high in importance as other recyclables, but they can be reused.”
The mulch will be available for public pickup after Jan. 15 at the Santa Rosa Clean Community System’s Green-up Nursery located at 6758 Park Ave. in Milton, as well as the Santa Rosa County Southside Service Center recycling site located at 5841 Gulf Breeze Pkwy.
Santa Rosa County’s recycling department will have five sites available for tree disposal between Dec. 26 and Feb. 27. Officials ask that trees not be placed in front of recycling containers.
Signs will be in place in designated areas.
Trees can be dropped off at:
• Quintette Recycle Area at the Five Points Intersection.
• Gulf Power recycle area on East Spencer Field Road.
• Across from Pace Water Company on Woodbine Road.
• Santa Rosa Clean Community System’s Green-up Nursery, 6758 Park Ave.; 623-1930.
For more information, contact the Green-up Nursery at 623-1930 or the Santa Rosa County Recycling Department at 623-9349.
Recycling sites and landfills back up during the holidays. Officials assure residents that everything will be taken care of in a reasonable manner and encourage patience.