Scouts’ tree recycling drive will be Saturday

Local Boy Scouts will hold their annual Christmas tree recycling drive Saturday, with a supplementary effort to collect coats for people in need.

Starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Scouts from the Columbia Gorge and Fort Vancouver districts will be going through neighborhoods in Battle Ground, Camas, Vancouver and Washougal, collecting firs and pines that have taken their final bough, er, bow.

Just the trees, noted Dave Cramblett: You can keep the lights.

It might sound like an unnecessary reminder, but a few people apparently are in a hurry to get their tree out of the house.

“We’ve taken off lights and tree stands” before loading them, the Troop 545 scoutmaster said. “We try to put them on the porch.”

Trees should be set at the curb by 8 a.m., said Cramblett, who is organizing the effort east of Interstate 205.

The trees will be recycled through services donated by McFarlane’s Bark, the city of Camas operations center, West Van Materials Recovery Center, Clark County Public Utilities and Waste Connections.

The recommended donation is $7 a tree; the money will help local Boy Scout troops and Cub Scout packs fund activities, but they’ll pick up the trees whether there’s a donation or not.

Scouts will also be collecting new or gently used coats, which will be forwarded to Friends of the Carpenter for cleaning and sorting.

In the past, coats have been distributed through local nonprofit organizations, including Council for the Homeless, Open House Ministry and Share.

Donors should place coats clearly marked for the Scout coat drive on their porch.

“Last year, we filled my 14-foot trailer with coats,” Cramblett said.

People who miss Saturday’s tree roundup can contact the Scouts for a pick-up. Many troops distributed fliers with contact phone numbers.

Those who live east of Interstate 205 can call Cramblett at 503-730-6201; those on the west side of I-205, in the Fort Vancouver District, can call Anne McEnerny-Ogle at 360-695-5124.

Debris/dropoff options

Residents in most parts of the county can set out cut trees, no taller than 5 feet, in or next to their yard debris cart for their next yard debris collection day. Customers who exceed their 96-gallon limit on yard debris by setting out a tree will be charged a one-time fee of $2.67 to $3.25, depending on their collection area.

Vegetation from wreaths and swags also can be recycled with yard debris, once rings, bows, wires and all nonorganic material has been removed.

Flocked and artificial trees cannot be recycled.

Regular trash, yard debris and recycling services will be delayed one day: New Year’s Day customers to today, and usual Friday customers to Saturday, according to a Clark County Environmental Services news release.

Natural Christmas trees also can be recycled at the following locations:

• Central Transfer Recycling, 11034 N.E. 117th Ave., 360-256-8482. $1 per tree, limit three trees.

• City Bark, 2419 N.E. Andresen Road, 360-253-8461. No charge.

• H&H Wood Recyclers, 8401 N.E. 117th Ave., 360-892-2805. $1 per tree.

• McFarlane’s Bark, 8806 N.E. 117th Ave., 360-892-6125. $3 per tree.

• Triangle Resources, 612 S.E. Union St., Camas, 360-834-7253. $2 per tree.

• Washougal Transfer Station, 4020 S. Grant St., 360-835-2500. $1 per tree, limit three trees.

• West Van Materials Center, 6601 N.W. Old Lower River Road, 360-737-1727. $1 per tree, limit three trees.