Each December, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and its partners at Jackson EMC, Walton EMC, Republic Services, and the Gwinnett County Departments of Transportation, Parks & Recreation, and Fire extend the magic of Christmas. Through Gwinnett County’s annual Bring One for the Chipper event, these organizations team up to transform live Christmas trees into mulch that will grace public spaces and parks over the coming months. Trees will be collected at select fire stations throughout the county between December 26, 2025, and January 21, 2026. The trees will then be transported to Bethesda Park at 225 Bethesda Church Road in Lawrenceville for Bring One for the Chipper 2026 on Saturday, January 24, 2026. Dozens of volunteers will be needed to ensure a smooth event from start to finish.

“The American Christmas Tree Association recently reported that 83% of households that celebrate Christmas will opt for artificial trees this year,” said Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Executive Director Schelly Marlatt. “That’s great news, since artificial trees can be used for an average of 10 years or longer with proper care and storage. It’s a shining example of Reuse in the Three R’s to reduce waste and protect the environment. For those households that prefer the natural beauty, pine-fresh aroma, and nostalgia of a real tree, they can still opt for another R from the Three R’s – Recycle. Through our Bring One for the Chipper event, we process hundreds of trees – chipping them into mulch and keeping them out of our landfills, where they would simply release harmful methane gas into the atmosphere as they decompose. Our neighbors can enjoy their live trees all through December, drop them at their local fire station after Christmas, and the mulch we create at the end of January will line the pathways and landscaping at our area parks come springtime. It’s a win-win for our neighbors and the environment!”

To be accepted for treecycling, live Christmas trees must be free of lights, tinsel, ornaments, hooks, and tree stands. Artificial trees will not be accepted at Bring One for the Chipper 2026 drop-off sites, which include:

Buford

• Fire Station 24, 2735 Mall of GA Blvd., 30519

• Fire Station 29, 2800 Thompson Mill Rd., 30519

Dacula

• Fire Station 17, 2739 Brooks Rd, SE, 30019

• Fire Station 27, 2825 Old Fountain Rd., 30019

Duluth

• Fire Station 5, 3001 Old Norcross Rd., 30096

• Fire Station 7, 3343 Bunton Rd., 30096

• Fire Station 19, 3275 N. Berkeley Lake Rd., 30096

Grayson

• Fire Station 8, 2295 Brannan Rd., 30017

Lawrenceville

• Fire Station 9, 1900 Five Forks-Trickum Rd., 30044

• Fire Station 10, 1131 Rock Springs Rd. 30043

• Fire Station 20, 1801 Cruse Rd., 30044

• Fire Station 25, 3575 Lawrenceville Hwy., 30044

• Fire Station 31, 1061 Collins Hill Rd. 30043

Lilburn

• Fire Station 2, 12 Harmony Grove Rd., 30047

• Fire Station 3, 4394 Five Forks-Trickum Rd., 30047

• Fire Station 22, 2180 Stone Dr., 30047

Loganville

• Fire Station 28, 3725 Rosebud Rd, 30052

• Fire Station 30, 1052 Ozora Rd., 30052

Norcross

• Fire Station 1, 165 Lawrenceville St., 30071

• Fire Station 11, 5885 Live Oak Pkwy., 30093

• Fire Station 23, 4355 Steve Reynolds Blvd., 30093

Peachtree Corners

• Fire Station 4, 5550 Spalding Dr., 30092

Snellville

• Fire Station 6, 3890 Johnson Dr., 30039

• Fire Station 12, 2815 Lenora Church Rd., 30078

Sugar Hill

• Fire Station 26, 6075 Suwanee Dam Rd., 30518

Suwanee

• Fire Station 13, 105 Main St., 30024

• Fire Station 21, 474 Old Peachtree Rd., 30024

Marlatt encourages anyone who wants to volunteer to register now for the Bring One for the Chipper 2026 event on Saturday, January 24. Hosted from 7:30-10:30 a.m., volunteers must be 14 or older and can include individuals and families, school clubs, civic groups, companies, and neighborhood associations. To volunteer, interested parties must register online at Volunteer Gwinnett - Gwinnett | Gwinnett County. Questions may be directed to [email protected] or 770-822-5187.