01.02.2024

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Today’s Forecast

66º | Heavy thunderstorms | 90% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:30 a.m. | Sunset 5:32 p.m.

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Thank you for allowing us to learn more about your interests. | Graphic by 6AM City

Happy New Year, Soda Citizens. To start the year off on the right foot, we need a little help from you.

Every morning, more than 52,000 of you welcome us into your inbox. And each day, we do our very best to provide you with timely, relevant information so you can get the most out of the city we call home.

We’re asking you to take two minutes to tell us a little more about yourself because the more we know about who you are, the better we can deliver information that you care about. Just two minutes. Feel free to skip any questions you don’t want to answer. We don’t want to pry. (Okay, we do, but for a good reason.)

We’ll be selecting one lucky survey participant to win $500. We’re rooting for you, COLA.

Thanks in advance for your feedback,

— Samantha + David

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Seasonal

🌲 New year, old tree

How to recycle your Christmas tree in Columbia, SC

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Recycle your Christmas trees | Photo by @capwasteservices

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 recycle your Christmas tree.

Drop-off recycling

Drop the tree off yourself at Richland County + Lexington County’s recycling centers/yard waste drop-off centers. Be sure to properly secure the tree to your car if you opt for this route. Trees must be placed in clean wood waste containers to be recycled.

In Richland County — if your evergreen is less than four inches in diameter and less than four feet long, you can include this item in your yard waste pick-up.

If you participate in Lexington County’s Curbside Collection Program, this item is accepted for yard waste collection. Keep material separate from garbage and recycled items.

Natural feeders

Give 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 they turn it 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.

The Buy

The Buy 1.02.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Acrylic organizers that fit under your bathroom sink, so you can have a clutter-free space and organize your belongings effortlessly.

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The Wrap

Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam

From the editor

Happy 2024 Soda Citizens. I haven’t seen you since last year — the oldest New Year’s joke in the book. A new year means new stories, articles, conversations, social posts, and opportunities. Share with us what you’d like us to cover in the coming year and it just may make it into one of our products.

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