Live trees and wreaths may be taken to the recycling centers on Urbane Road, Peerless Road or the landfill as part of the Christmas Tree Recycling Program, according to Cheryl Dunson, vice president of marketing for Santek Environmental Inc.
Chipping occurs only at the landfill, but trees taken to the Urbane and Peerless Road recycling centers will be transported.
The program is operated as a partnership by Santek, the Bradley County Mayor’s Office, the Bradley County Road Department and the Bradley County Commission. Chipping equipment and trucks are provided by the County Road Department.
Christmas trees and wreaths delivered to the recycling centers during non-operating hours may be dropped off. County trucks will haul them to the landfill for mulching.
Operating hours include the:
- Bradley County Landfill, open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
- Urbane Road Recycling Center, open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m.
- Peerless Road Recycling Center, open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m.
“Recycling your Christmas Tree not only makes good environmental sense, but it’s also free and readily available (at the three recycling center locations),” Dunson said. “... And, it results in a valuable resource (mulch).”
Mulch produced from the chipping is free of charge and may be picked up at the landfill.
Bradley County is working to make the program as convenient as possible to area residents by hauling Christmas trees that have been dropped off at the Urbane and Peerless Road recycling sites.
“Residents can just drop off their trees outside the gate regardless of whether (the centers) are open,” said Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis. “We’ll make sure they get transported to the landfill where they’ll be chipped.”
Only three days remain until this year’s Jan. 8 program deadline.
On a related note, Dunson said Santek and Bradley County government remind residents they can take advantage of other source reduction programs at the three collection centers. Year-round, all sites accept glass, aluminum, cardboard, mixed paper and newsprint. The Peerless Road Recycling Center has begun accepting electronics and the landfill also accepts waste oils, lead-acid batteries and white goods.
For more information about “Chipping of the Green” or any other components of the recycling programs offered by Santek and Bradley County, area residents may contact Dunson at Santek by calling 476-9160.
