Drop Your Natural Christmas Tree Off For Recycling

Just a reminder, if you plan to take down your natural Christmas tree this weekend, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Project Office is accepting natural Christmas trees for recycling through Feb. 15, 2015 at Hartwell Lake.

The recycled trees will be used as fish attractors at both sites.   Trees will be tied in bundles, weighted with concrete anchors, and submerged in locations marked with fish attractor buoys.   Corps rangers and volunteers will place submerged trees around fishing piers to improve fishing habitat.

All tree trimmings, including ornaments, tinsel, lights and garland, must be removed before dropping off trees, said Fleming.

At the Hartwell project, Christmas trees may be dropped off at the Big Oaks Recreation Area on U.S. 29 in Hartwell or Poplar Springs Access off Gumlog Road in Lavonia in Georgia, and the Twin Lakes or Coneross boat ramps in South Carolina.

Through Jan. 15, trees may also be dropped off at a designated area near the entrance of Mount Lebanon Elementary School in Pendleton, South Carolina.

Recycled trees may be picked by fishermen any time for personal use until Feb. 15 at any of the Hartwell drop-off locations except Mount Lebanon Elementary School.

Trees should be anchored in eight-to-12 feet of water.

Dumping Christmas trees, wireframe wreaths, yard debris, and household trash in the main lake channels or around private docks is strictly prohibited.

For more information or to volunteer, contact the Hartwell Lake Project Office at 888-893-0678.