Sure, the holidays are all fun and games — but if you celebrate Christmas, you know that sooner or later you have to deal with that "Night of the Living Dead" tree in the corner. That doesn’t mean it’s dumpster-bound. Instead, we have some tips on how to put an old tree to good use.
Curbside pickup The City of Greenville will recycle your tree for you: all you have to do is bring it out to the curb for your neighborhood’s usual pick-up day. To make sure it gets properly recycled, you’ll need to remove the tinsel, garland, tree stand + ornaments before bringing it out. 
Greenville's Christmas tree | Photo by @james_simpson_photography Drop-off recycling Maybe you just can’t wait for curbside pickup. Drop the tree off yourself at Holmes Park, Timmons Park, Gower Park, or the West Greenville Community Center until late January. Be sure to properly secure the tree to your car if you opt for this route. Bonus: your holiday boxes, tissue paper + non-foil-lined gift wrap can be dropped off at these same recycling centers.
Natural feeders The Upstate is full of different bird species, so consider giving back to Mother Nature by making a natural bird feeder. Get creative with edible ornaments (think: orange-apple garlands and peanut butter pine cones), then set the tree out for birds to eat + take shelter. If your property includes a pond or lake, you can toss in the tree to make a natural reef, giving local fish a home.
Make your own mulch When you take a tree to a recycling center, it’s turned into mulch, anyway. So, why not use it for your own yard + spring garden? Ideally, you could shred the tree — for example, Home Depot has mulchers for rent — but usually by the time the holidays are over, the needles will already be falling off. You can spread them in garden beds or over the lawn.
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HEALTH
The New Year is a great time to check in on your health, assess where you’re at (and perhaps where you want to be). Need help getting started on — or supporting — your fitness journey? Enter: The YMCA of Greenville. 
Members have 24/7 access to on-demand classes allowing them to train anywhere | Photo provided by YMCA of Greenville The Y’s programs, classes, and equipment help make getting active easy + fun at any fitness level. From yoga and Zumba classes to free weights and cardio, a membership to the Y ($27-86 per month) allows people to choose how they want to approach getting fit. Pro tip: Book a session with a certified Y personal trainer to develop a program that works for you.
Not a “gym” person? That’s okay. Members also have access to the Virtual Y platform, which features a library of on-demand classes from Les Mills that members can access 24/7 from their computer or mobile device. (Read: You can exercise from the comfort of your living room.)
Bonus: The platform’s content will be updated quarterly with fresh, new classes — which means you won’t get bored with your workout routine. In addition to classes, it will offer access to resources like free virtual meetings and Q+As about current health topics. (Note: This feature is only available for qualifying membership types.)
Ready to start the New Year off right with a membership to the Y? Pro tip: If you join in January, the joining fee ($29-69) is waived. 💪* NEWS NOTES
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Is one of your New Year’s Resolutions to get more steps in? Why not kick off that goal by hiking in one of our local state parks during one of its designated First Day Hikes.
Scheduled on Jan.1, over 40 ranger-led hikes will take place through SC State Parks, and if you participate, you can pick up a commemorative sticker.
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Editor's Pick: Local channel WYFF 4 posed the question on its Instagram: How long will you keep your Christmas tree up? I plan to take mine down next weekend, so I can still feel a little of the Christmas magic through the end of the year (plus I'm still in denial that the holiday is over). You can join in on the debate here.
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