Donated Christmas trees turn to mulch in Georgetown

How Georgetown is recycling Christmas trees

Now that the New Year is here, seasonal decorations are coming down. A Georgetown disposal site says it's already seen more than 70 people drop off their Christmas trees, but they'll be turning those dried-out branches into something with a purpose.

GEORGETOWN, Texas - As Christmas comes to a close, it can be bittersweet to take down the tree.

"Just decorating it," said Harper Williams, who was dropping off a tree with her dad. "It was put on with a lot of memories."

Harper and her dad are at the Georgetown Transfer Station to recycle their first live tree.

"We've had a fake tree for the last few years, but she was ready for a real one, so we went shopping," said Lonnie Seek, Harper’s dad.

But Harper's beloved tree will live on, just in a different way.

"It was a great way to recycle trees and not just throw them away," said Williams.

Recycling Christmas trees: What to do

Trying to figure out what to do with your live tree now that holidays are ending? Residents in Travis County have a chance to put them to good use.

The Georgetown Transfer Station turns the evergreens into mulch.

"We ask people to bring it out here instead of throwing it out in the trash," said Rickey Franklin, with the Texas Disposal Systems. "Like I said, it's good for us to mulch it up. It's a better way to get rid of it instead of trying to put it in the trash truck or trying to put it in a can. You're mixing chemicals up with it, you know. We'd rather take care of it out here."

If you drop off your tree, Franklin warns against leaving Christmas lights and ornaments on it because those items can't be turned into mulch.

"Just bring a clean tree," said Franklin. "No ornaments, no bags around it, and come sign a piece of paper and bring it out."

Dropping a tree at the station is free. So is picking up the mulch.