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Community Corner

Alpharetta, Milton Make Mulch Of Christmas

Drop off Christmas trees to help make Alpharetta and Milton greener in 'Bring One for the Chipper' program.

 The Alpharetta/Milton community has been hard at work planning the environmentally-friendly solution for getting Chirstmas trees out of the house and recycled. Bring One for the Chipper is a nine-year tradition in Alpharetta, and a three-year tradition in Milton.

This event brings the community  together to make it a better and greener place by recycling Christmas trees. But it takes more than just staff from the two cities to make it work. Volunteers help staff the Alpharetta event on Jan. 8.

Terry Porter, Alpharetta's Environmental Education coordinator, said, " I truly have the best volunteers. I know everyone says that, but I really do."

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She expects 30 or more children from the Young Men's Service League to arrive at the Home Depot in Alpharetta on Jan. 8, ready to work.  The YMSL is a mother-son organization dedicated to community service and forming a special bond with their mothers.

The children don't have to run the chipper. That's the work of Davey Tree Experts, which comes every year to the Home Depot to chip close to 5,000 trees from the Alpharetta location. It only takes about 300 to 500 trees for a truck load. The recycled trees turn into mulch after going through the chipper.

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More than just trees can be chipped. Evergreen wreaths also are a great thing to bring to the chipper.

Preparation is a large part of making the chipping process easier. Chris Heim, a district manager for Davey Tree Experts, offers tips:

"Just bring the tree. No lights, no ornaments, and no fake trees. We have had people drop them off before," Heim said.

Milton will have three locations where trees can be dropped off : Milton High school, King's Ridge Christian School and Scottsdale Farms. Residents can swing by between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Scottsdale Farms is having pre-drop offs Dec. 26-31. The program lasts until Jan. 9.  Be sure to map out where the closest chipping site is located. Leaving a Christmas tree in your home for too long can quickly become a fire hazard.

Alpharettans interested in the Christmas tree mulch can visit the Alpharetta website to obtain the necessary forms. Contact the city for more information.

Mulch is used all over the community; in parks, schools and other city facilities. Last year, Milton chipped approximately 500 Christmas trees and the mulch was used in parks around the city.

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