Christmas tree disposal sites announced

Last week, Santa Rosa County announced the locations of five recycling sites where residents can dispose of their live Christmas trees. The trees must be taken to the site by Monday, Feb. 28. Residents are asked to place trees in the designated area identified by signage and not in front of the recycling containers. The sites include:

• Tiger Point recreation area in Gulf Breeze, east of WalMart
• Quintette recycle area at the Five Points Intersection
• Gulf Power recycle area on East Spencer Field Road
• Clean Community System on Park Avenue
• Jay Transfer Station on Transfer Station Road

The trees will be chipped and offered as free mulch at Clean Community System in Milton at a later date to be announced.

In addition to announcing the sites for tree disposal, county officials urged residents to not cut up and burn their trees in a home fireplace, as burning evergreens release tar and creosol, which can ignite and cause a chimney fire.

Residents are reminded that recycle areas are not disposal areas for furniture or household garbage that is not sorted recyclable material. Santa Rosa County recycle sites accept glass, metal, plastic containers, paper and cardboard. A list of all of Santa Rosa County’s recycling points and accepted materials can be found online at www.santarosa.fl.gov/recycle.