Now that presents are unwrapped, and a new year has begun, the LaGrange community is back to its hustle and bustle during the weekend. 

Keep Troup Beautiful is asking the community to recycle its used, live Christmas tree and other items such as computers, printers, cardboard, paper and plastic on Saturday.

KTB is sponsoring its Bring One for the Chipper Event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Locals can drop their recyclable items off for free at the LaGrange Recycling Center under the water tower at Lafayette Parkway and S. Davis Road and across from Hogansville City Hall on Main Street in Hogansville.  

A dumpster for non-commercial tires will also be at both locations as well. 

“We will be giving away tree seedlings free of charge, thanking people for bringing their recyclables by,” said Keep Troup Beautiful’s Executive Director Scott Landa. 

Trees dropped off will be chipped up and used for mulch and by the Corps of Engineers to be used as habitats in the lakes for fish. 

“Things that go into a landfill take up space, and that shortens the life of a landfill,” Landa said. “The less stuff we fill the landfills with, the longer that landfill will last. As far as recyclables, they can be turned back into something useful. That’s what is very important. Without taking more recourses from the earth to make stuff new, we can recycle and create new things out of old things.”

Additional to recycling, locals can gear up for the Mardi Gras season this weekend.

Twin Cedars Youth and Family Services, Inc. will host its annual Mardi Gras kickoff event Saturday night. The Twelfth Night celebration will kick off the campaigning season for the 2020 Behind the Mask king and queen candidates at Wild Leap Brewing Co. 

“We are celebrating the beginning of the Mardi Gras season,” said Jennifer Shawa, director of development for Twin Cedars. “It’ll be just a mingle and casual party.” 

The event will start at 6 p.m., and tickets cost $20, which includes an entry fee, two drink tickets and will also serve as 20 votes for a candidate.