This year, our community achieved a significant milestone by recycling 352 mulched Christmas Trees for Liberty County. This collective effort, made possible by the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, The Home Depot, Davey Tree Expert Company, Georgia Forestry Commission, WXIA 11 Alive, Ferry Morse Company, and Burpee Seed Company, is a testament to our shared commitment to environmental conservation.

On Saturday, January 4, 2025, KLB held its annual Bring One for the Chipper event, contributing to the over 6 million trees diverted from landfills statewide since the program’s inception in 1991. This initiative has not only reduced landfill waste but also fostered a healthier local environment, a feat we can all be proud of.

It is always nice to see Liberty County and Fort Stewart community come together to recycle live Christmas trees to keep them out of the landfills.

Plus, when 550 new trees are planted, the whole community benefits.”

Keep Liberty Beautiful Advisory Board was able to partner with Georgia Power, Hinesville Public Works Department (ESG), Liberty County Road Department, Liberty County Recycling Department, Liberty County Solid Waste Authority, Jet Gas Station, CORE, Fort Stewart, Lowes, Hinesville Rotary Club, and Georgia Forestry Commission to make this event a success.

The trees collected through our Christmas tree recycling program are not just waste diverted, but resources repurposed.

They will be transformed into mulch for playgrounds, city and county landscaping projects, and individual home use, contributing to the beauty of our community. The trees collected on Fort Stewart will also be utilized to provide habitats for fish and other animals, further enhancing our local ecosystem. This initiative not only supports wider eco-friendly holiday efforts but also contributes to the sustainability of our environment. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, for each tree harvested, one to three seedlings are planted in its place, furthering our commitment to environmental conservation and inspiring hope for a greener future.

“Bring One for the Chipper is a wonderful way to carry the holiday spirit forward,” said Natalie Johnston-Russell, executive director of the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation. “Each year, tens of thousands of trees are transformed into mulch or used to support aquatic ecosystems. We’re incredibly grateful for the volunteers and participants who help make this initiative a success.”

Keep Liberty had 30 volunteers come out to help with the Bring One For The Chipper, 150 people came out to pick up free tree seedlings, and 300 seeds to plant were given out. Some of the participants brought items for the Hinesville Recycle It! Fair. We collected over 600 pounds of clothes and shoes to donate to local missions. We partner with local churches like Connection Church Mission Possible Team to support missions in our local community.

The Savannah Shred Truck participated, and 1,235 lbs. of paper was shredded.

Keep Liberty Beautiful Established in 1983, Keep Liberty Beautiful is one of 70 Keep America Beautiful / Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation affiliates. It is a community education and volunteer action program focusing on litter prevention and eradication, waste reduction and recycling, Stormwater Pollution and water conservation, and community beautification and environmental improvement. For more information, visit www. keeplibertybeautiful.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation has a 47-year history of doing the little things that make a big difference in Georgia’s communities.

Established in 1978, we aim to educate and inspire Georgians to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environments. The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation supports more than 70 local affiliates across the state, and its programs represent 80% of Georgia’s population.

We also strive to engage new communities and individuals in our efforts to end littering, promote recycling and waste reduction, and beautify communities. For more information, visit www. kgbf.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Keep Liberty Beautiful is thrilled to invite you to our next event, Arbor Day! This exciting event will involve planting trees in designated areas to enhance our community’s greenery. You can reserve trees now for Arbor Day by using this https://bit. ly/41iglGI or visit our website, www.keeplibertybeautiful. org, for more information. You can also call us at (912) 880-4888 or email klcb@libertycountyga.gov. We are looking forward to your participation and your valuable contribution to our community’s environmental initiatives. Let’s make Arbor Day a memorable and impactful event together!