By EMILY REED / Special to the Reporter

Shelby County residents looking to discard their Christmas trees after the holidays will have the option of recycling them at five locations across the county.

The county, in conjunction with the city of Chelsea, the city of Pelham and Propst Alabaster LLC, is offering a Christmas tree recycling program from Dec. 26-Jan. 3, 2017.

The countywide locations include Heardmont Park on U.S. 119, Chelsea City Hall, Ray Building off Alabama 70 in Columbiana, Pelham City Park, which is located off U.S. 31 in Pelham, and AmStar Theatre parking lot located within the Alabaster Colonnade.

Shelby County Development Services Manager Chad Scroggins said each designated area will be sectioned off for Christmas trees, and residents can leave the trees at any time.

County employees will pick up the trees during the day.

All decorations, lights and tree stands must be removed from the trees before recycling, according to Scroggins.

Scroggins said in 2015 there were 1,200 Christmas trees recycled at the five locations.

“It was a pretty good number of Christmas trees,” Scroggins said. “We usually average each year around 1,100 to 1,200 a year. I think people like having them recycled because they know the trees will be able to be reused for a good purpose.”

The trees are recycled into landscape and erosion/sediment control materials for county facilities and decrease the volume of illegal dumping that occurs each year, Shelby County Manager Alex Dudchock said in a release.

Scroggins said this year the Christmas tree recycling program will likely have an additional partner through Alabama Power, who will use some of the trees to recycle in the lakes on the properties of Alabama Power for fish habitats.

“People will often wonder what they should do with their tree after Christmas is over,” Scroggins said. “Through the recycling program, they are able to dispose of their tree and know it is going to be used for something else.”

For more information about recycling the trees, contact Scroggins at 669-3737.