Now that Christmas is over, what should you do with your tree? Here's where to recycle it.

When the Christmas celebration is done, the glittery and colorful holiday tree comes down. The decorations are packed for another year. And what’s left is a dead tree.

So what happens now.

Keep America Beautiful affiliates across the nation urge people to recycle their trees.

In many counties in Georgia, places are set up for recycling efforts.

Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful is hosting a “Bring One for the Chipper” event on Jan. 6, the day many affiliates nationwide are also observing, according to its executive director Stacy Smith.

On that day, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., people can drop off their trees at Clarke Middle School, Sandy Creek Nature Center, Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School on Chase Street and the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital off College Station Road.

People will receive a free tree seedling for taking the time to recycle. These locations are also accepting wreaths and Christmas lights for recycling.

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Otherwise, trees can be dropped off before and after Jan. 6 at recycling centers located at the Georgia Square mall police substation, the Tag Office on Lexington Road, Winterville Public Works and at CHaRM at 1005 College Ave.

People are asked to remove all decorations before the trees are recycled.

Smith said the recycled trees are used in compost, mulch, and for fish habitats in local waterways.

Keep Oconee County Beautiful is also hosting the “Chipper” event on Jan. 6 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Harris Shoals Park in Watkinsville and at Home Depot at the Oconee Connector.

Free saplings of white oak and red buds or a seed packet will be available for those who recycle, according to Keep Oconee County Beautiful Executive Director Cindy Pritchard.

Also, all five Oconee County recycling sites will accept trees on other days during normal business hours, she said.

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Keep Madison County Beautiful has announced that trees can be dropped off from Dec. 27 through Jan. 6 at the Madison County Transfer Station on Colbert-Danielsville Road.

People are asked to let the attendant know you are recycling a tree, which is free of charge.

Oglethorpe County does not have a Christmas tree recycling program, but an official for the landfill said most residents recycle their own trees usually by placing them in fishing ponds.

In fact, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources recommends that as a way of recycling a tree as it “provides a natural cover for smaller fish species, which larger fish will inherently follow.”

The DNR also suggests people can use the tree to make a brush pile in their backyard as the tree can offer protection for wildlife. And the tree can be decorated with items such as seed, popcorn, suet and berries to feed a variety of wildlife.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens, Oconee observing 'Bring One for the Chipper' on Jan. 6