With Christmas and New Year’s in our rearview mirror, many are now trying to figure out what to do with their live Christmas trees. That is exactly why Keep Troup Beautiful will be hosting its annual Bring One for the Chipper event on Saturday.

Bring One for the Chipper will be held on Saturday at the LaGrange Recycling Center on Davis Road, under the water tower, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All lights and decorations should be removed from the live trees before donation.

“Last year, our experience was that every single one of the trees that was brought in was picked up by fishermen to put into West Point Lake or their own local pond,” said Scott Landa, the executive director of Keep Troup Beautiful. “If there are any left, then the city will grind them up and they will go to the mulch pile out at the county landfill. The trees will be taken care of, that is the easiest thing.”

The event will also provide the opportunity to recycle electronics and non-commercial tires, though tvs will not be accepted. Everyone who brings items to recycle will receive a free seedling and be registered for a drawing for a gift basket. This year dogwood and white oak seedlings should be available while supplies last. Members of Keep Troup Beautiful plan to be at the recycling center to assist those recycling and provide additional information.

“What we like to do is really inform people about what we do — reducing litter and also recycling to a greater extent,” Landa said. “Traditionally we get people who already recycle, but there are always some who show up who don’t necessarily recycle, so it is a good opportunity to let them know what LaGrange does at the recycling center and just get them more aware of what the City of LaGrange can do to keep stuff out of the landfill. Of course, we want to emphasize that point because when we can keep stuff out of the landfill, the landfill will last much longer, and it is much better for our local population that way.”

The City of Hogansville will also host a Bring One for the Chipper location at 400 East Main Street in the parking lot across from city hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Only live Christmas trees will be accepted in Hogansville.

The Corps of Engineers will also allow residents to drop off undecorated live trees at the Yellow Jacket boat ramp and Sunny Point boat ramp now through Jan. 13. The Corps will use the undecorated trees as fish structures in the lake.

“It gives the fish more cover obviously, and it gives them a place to lay their eggs and everything,” said Lisa Hunter, chief of public affairs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “It is just one of the things they do. They actually have artificial reefs as well that are made out of concrete, but they’ve been doing the Christmas tree disposal — I like to call it Christmas tree recycling — for more than 20 years now. We’re not sure if it is helping to increase the population, but it is certainly helping to sustain the fish population.”

To learn more about the US Army Corps of Engineers’ fish attractors in West Point Lake visit Sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/West-Point-Lake/Fishing/. To learn more about Keep Troup Beautiful, visit Keeptroupbeautiful.com.