City will pick up Christmas trees

Now that the presents have been opened and Christmas guests have left, the city of Augusta wants to help with the disposal of Christmas trees, both artificial and natural.

Through Jan. 30, the Solid Waste Department will pick up trees left at the curb and will accept trees being dropped off at its landfill at 4030 Deans Bridge Road in Blythe, according to code enforcement supervisor Clayton Smith.

The disposal and recycling service is being provided at no cost, he said.

Augusta residents who receive solid-waste services from the city should place natural trees at the curb for pickup on the first day of their solid-waste service.

Artificial trees should be placed at the curb for disposal on the resident's second day of solid-waste service.

Anyone, including people who don't live in Richmond County, can drop off a tree for disposal at the solid-waste facility on Deans Bridge Road, Smith said.

Trees more than 10 feet long must be cut into two pieces for it to be picked up or dropped off for disposal, he said.

Trees must be free of holiday decorations and ornaments.

Artificial trees that are collected will go to the landfill.

The department will recycle natural trees "into an environmentally friendly mulch product," he said.

For more information about tree disposal, contact the Augusta Solid Waste Department at (706) 592-3200.