City of Aiken not disposing of Christmas trees this year

With Christmas just two days away, it will soon be time to undeck the halls and tuck away your holiday decor for next year.

Getting rid of your tree may be a little more difficult forsome this year as the City of Aiken will not hold its annual Christmas tree recycling program.

In the past, the City has collected Christmas trees to be recycled at drop-off locations throughout Aiken, including the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center, the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, Citizens Park and Perry Park; however, City officials said the program will not be held during this holiday season.

"The City is not formally accepting trees this year," said City Manager Roger LeDuc.

The City does not own a tree chipper - a machine use to reduce trees to wood chips - and would have to rent one for the program to be held. LeDuc said Christmas trees placed outside homes of City residents will still be picked up by Public Works employees on their normal routes.

While the City of Aiken won't collect trees to recycle this year, Christmas trees can be dropped off at several County locations.

"They will be able to take them to the County drop-off areas - there are 10 of them. There will be an area set up for collection," said Aiken County Solid Waste Supervisor Rodney Cooper. "Usually fishermen will ask for them to make fish beds out of. If there's anything left over, we will mulch it up. Aiken County Parks, Recreation and Tourism or the County will end up using it to spread under the shrubs."

County tree drop-off locations (The sites are not open Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and are closed on Sundays)

* Belvedere: 537 Edgefield Road

* Langley: 458 Huber Clay Road

* New Ellenton: 2120 Williston Road

* Graniteville: 214 Bettis Academy Road

* Reynolds Pond: 1491 Reynolds Pond Road

* Windsor: 102 Cedar Road

* Perry: 270 Center St. E.

* Couchton: 240 New Holland Road

* New Holland: 121 Chalk Bed Road

* Monetta: 118 Trojan Road