1/4/05

Free Mulch Giveaway Begins Jan. 18

For the first time ever, Holly Springs is allowing residents to enjoy the benefits of recycled Christmas trees. After collecting discarded trees from residential curbsides, the Town Department of Public Works will shred the trees into mulch, which residents can pick up free of charge beginning Jan. 18, as long as supplies last, from Town property in the Holly Springs Business Park on the west side of the NC 55 Bypass.

To schedule a time to pick up the mulch, call Public Works at (919) 552-5920. The receptionist will direct you to the location in the business park where the mulch is located. Mulch is available to residents only; commercial businesses cannot collect much. Mulch can be picked up by appointment on weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. A Town backhoe operator will be on-site to load pickup trucks and trailers. Residents without pickup trucks or trailers who want mulch should bring their own bags and shovels to collect mulch themselves.

“The main reason we're giving residents the mulch is to keep trees out of the landfill,” said Luncie McNeil, director of the Holly Springs Department of Public Works. “This year, we hope not to put the first one in the landfill.”

In previous years, the Town of Holly Springs has shredded a portion of the trees collected and used the mulch on Town property. Other trees were used by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission to sink in lakes to create fish habitat. The remaining trees were disposed.

McNeil said that he expected about 200 cubic yards of mulch – enough to fill nine dump trucks – from this year's Christmas tree collection.

For more information or to schedule a pickup time, call Public Works at (919) 552-5920.

Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us