Christmas has now passed and many residents are slowly taking down their Christmas trees, saying adieu to Christmas decorations until next year’s holiday season when the lights and festivities ring in another new year. As you take down your Christmas tree you might be wondering if there is anything else you can do besides put it on the curb – and this year you can keep it green by donating your tree for recycling to save the sand dunes along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Association Management, Inc. (AMI) Kingwood is collecting trees through January 9, 2010 for the annual Dunes Day project which helps to rebuild sand dunes along Brazoria County beaches, which were devastated this year by Hurricane Ike.

The sand dunes play a critical role in protecting property, roadways, and wetlands from the sudden surges and battering waves that come during hurricanes like Ike, but in large storms like Ike much of the sand is lost. “The dunes are coming back due in large part to last year’s Dunes Day efforts, but they still need help,” explained Richard Hurd, Director of Brazoria County Parks Department. “Should Brazoria County land another big storm in 2010, the dunes will need to be in the best condition possible to help protect Brazoria County and its beaches.”

Area citizens may drop off their Christmas trees at the AMI-Kingwood office at 900 Rockmead Drive, Suite 144 through January 9. No artificial or flocked trees or decorations. The goal is to collect more than 20,000 Christmas trees which will be transported to the beach by Brazoria County Precinct crews. Then, on Saturday, January 23, Dunes Day volunteers will meet at Quintana beach near surfside at 9am with gloves and a hammer in hand to position and stake the trees into place. The trees will be used to rebuild the dune line and catch windblown sand. Brazoria County will provide the stakes and twine.

Trees may also be dropped off at Quintana Beach County Park or with the City of Surfside. For more information, contact Rich Tillman at (979) 864-1558 ext 112 or James Glover at (979) 864-1541 ext 3. For information about the AMI-Kingwood drop-off, call (281) 358-9090.