Lincoln Boy Scouts will help recycle your Christmas tree

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Lincoln’s Boy Scout Troop 8 is back for the eighth year in a row, picking up Christmas trees from the curb and recycling them for the eighth year in a row. 

The initiative is called Scouting for Trees. 

“We go around to businesses and also to residential areas to help our community in that way, recycle these trees and then that gives back to the community,” troop leader Brendan McDaniel said.

The trees are turned into fish habitat, chipped for trail maintenance or used for other needs in Lincoln.

SEE ALSO: Lincoln shares ways to dump Christmas trees before becoming serious fire hazards

Troop 8 had 13 crews picking up the trees on Monday. 

“At this location, we just loaded 75,” McDaniel said at a Home Depot. “We dropped another 40 up already at Oak Lake. But our crews are going to be pushing 300 at another commercial location.” 

Over the years, this project has collected over 45,000 trees in Lincoln. This year, the troop has a goal to surpass 50,000 total trees collected.

The program is based on community service and provided at no cost, although the troop does accept donations. 

“It’s great for us to give back but is also great for our youth to learn really great leadership skills,’ McDaniel said. “They are interacting with the public in a way that they might not always be able to do.” 

Those interested in this service must make a reservation 24 hours in advance and have their trees out by 9 a.m. on pickup day.

Just remember to remove all decorations from your tree ahead of time.  

To make reservations with Troop 8 for tree pickup, you can call 402-965-1458 or visit Scouting 4 Trees.

Tree pickup dates are Dec. 26 and 31 and Jan. 1-2, 7-8 and 14.