Grinding of the Greens Program

Now that Christmas is over, your Christmas Trees can have a second life through the Grinding of the Greens program.

Organizers with Keep the Midlands Beautiful help recycle the trees by grinding them down to mulch, which will be made available to the public for free in three weeks.

If you would like to donate your tree, organizers ask that you make sure to remove the tree from its stand and remove all ornaments and lights.

There are 16 drop-off locations in Lexington and Richland counties, and you can donate your tree until Jan. 13, 2012.

Drop-Off Locations:

--> City of Columbia Compost Facility -121 Humane Lane, Columbia. (Off Shop Road across from SPCA). M-F, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

--> Clemson Institute for Economic & Community Development -900 Clemson Rd

--> Crooked Creek Park - 1098 Old Lexington Highway, Chapin. (Next to Chapin Middle School). Daily 7:30 AM - 11:00 PM

--> Fort Jackson Recycling Center - Building #6568 on Lee Road, Fort Jackson.  (Enter the Fort through Gate 2 on Forest Drive.  After Burger King, turn left onto Lee Road.) M-F, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Sat 8:30 - 3:30 PM

--> Friarsgate Park - 1712 Chadford Rd., Irmo. M-F 2-9 PM, Sat 9-8 PM, Sun 1-6 PM

--> Hollow Creek Tree Farm - 228 Windmill Road, Gilbert

--> Hopkins Park - 150 Hopkins Park Road, Hopkins. M-F 2 PM-9 PM, Sat. 9 AM-8PM

--> Lexington Co. C&D Landfill - 498 Landfill Lane, Lexington. M-Sat 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM

--> Lexington Co. Sandhills Collection Center - 3241 Charleston Hwy., Cayce M-W-F, Sat 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Sun 3:00 - 7:00 PM

--> Lexington Co. Southeast Collection Center - 538 Martin Neese Road, Swansea. M-W-F, Sat 7:00 AM -7:00 PM, Sun 3:00 - 7:00 PM

--> Meadowlake Park -600 Beckman Rd Columbia. M-F 2-9 PM, Sat 9-8 PM, Sun 1-6 PM

--> Polo Road Park - 730 Polo Road, Columbia. M-F 2-9 PM, Sat 9-8 PM, Sun 1-6 PM

--> Richland Co. C&D Landfill - 1070 Caughman Road, North (Off Monticello). M-F 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM, Sat 12:30 - 5:30 PM

--> Richland Co. Lower Richland Drop-off Center - 10531 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia. M-Sat 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Sun 12:30-6:00 PM

--> Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church - 5508 Sunset Blvd. (Highway 378), Lexington

--> Seven Oaks Park - 200 Leisure Lane, Columbia. (Near the intersection of St. Andrews and Piney Grove Roads.)

Content Credit: http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=165053

Photo Credit: Google Image

Choosing a Tree

The difference between the most wonderful time of the year and a call to SERVPRO can be in the choosing of this year's tree. Christmas trees are involved in approximately 400 fires annually, according to the National Fire Protection Association. These typically result in more than a dozen deaths, dozens of injuries, and more than $10 million in property loss and damage. In short: circuiting tree lights are cited as the leading cause.

Since the holiday season has begun, take a few of safety tips courtesy of the State Fire Marshal's Office on choosing and preparing Christmas trees for decoration that will minimize the risk of fire and injuries.

• If you're buying an artificial tree, it should bear the "Fire Resistant" label. While this type of tree can catch fire, it will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.


• If you're buying a natural tree, buy the freshest you can find. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.


• Watch out for trees with a greenish cast to their trunks and branches; many growers spray trees with green paint to make them look more appealing.


• Cut at least one inch off the trunk's base to expose fresh wood for better water absorption. A tree will absorb as much as a gallon of water or more in the first 24 hours and one or more quarts a day thereafter. A seal of dried sap will form over the cut stump in four to six hours if water drops below the base of the tree, preventing the tree from absorbing water later when the tree stand is refilled. If a seal does form, another fresh cut will need to be made.


• To maximize freshness and minimize fire risk, keep the tree outdoors for a few days in a bucket filled with water before bringing it indoors to decorate. The tree stand should hold at least one gallon of water.


• Because heated rooms dry out natural trees rapidly, keep the stand filled with water; check the water level daily. A six-foot tree will absorb one gallon of water every two days.

Sandy Hayden

Content Credit: http://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/sfmo/fmchoosetree.pdf
Photo Credit: http://favim.com/orig/201108/26/christmas-tree-photography-snow-tree-weather-Favim.com-130939.jpg