VALDOSTA — OK, once Christmas has come and gone, many residents face an odd situation. 

A dying tree is sagging in the middle of the house — what to do with it now?

As it has for the past several years, Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful has the answer, said H. Aaron Strickland, KLVB executive director.

Bring One for the Chipper 2017, KLVB’s annual Christmas tree recycling event, begins Monday, Dec. 26, providing residents tree drop-off sites at The Home Depot, Norman Drive; Super Wal-Mart off Inner Perimeter Road; Mathis City Auditorium, North Ashley Street. The drop-off sites are available through Jan. 7.

Additional drop-off locations include City of Hahira, corner of Lawson and North Lowndes streets; Valdosta YMCA, 2424 Gornto Road. The sites are available only through Jan. 6.

From 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Jan. 7, the event wraps with a sapling giveaway (while supplies last) to anyone dropping off a tree at the three principal drop-off sites. Saplings will only be distributed on the final day.

Christmas trees brought to the sites will be chipped into mulch or used as wildlife habitat, Strickland says.

The “Chipper” program helps municipal and county governments conform to the state’s 1996 yard-trimmings ban that prohibits their disposal in municipal solid-waste landfills.

Lowndes County drop-off locations join an estimated 400 similar sites scheduled throughout Georgia.

Chipper sponsors: Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful; Georgia Forestry Commission; Cunningham Tree Service; Super Walmart; City of Hahira; Asplundh Tree Expert; Valdosta Junior Women’s Club; Earth 911; Keep Georgia Beautiful; Ferry-Morse; Georgia Power Company; 11Alive; The Home Depot; Davey Tree Expert; Azalea City Woman’s Club; Lowndes County; Valdosta YMCA; City of Valdosta; Boy Scout Troop 415.

More information: Call (229) 671-3698.