As the holidays come to an end, decorations come down, unwanted gifts get returned and anyone with a fresh tree begins to wonder what to do with the lifeless sapling whose needles now cover the floor.
Christmas tree recycling fundraisers are being facilitated in Central Oregon by Boy Scouts of America and the Madras Swim Team. For a small donation your tree can be picked up from your home and recycled into compost.

Anna Quesenberry
The Broadside

Bend Boy Scouts of America will be collecting Christmas trees for recycling in Bend on Dec. 29-30 and Jan. 5-6 according to Bend Garbage and Recycling Curbside News.
Trees should be free of all decorations and placed at the end of the driveway by 9:00 a.m. on the day of pickup.
A $5 donation is appreciated. Checks payable to “Boy Scouts of America” should be sealed in a plastic bag and attached to the top of the tree.
Flyers specifying which days the troops will be circulating through each neighborhood went out to Bend residents in the middle of December.
For questions leave a message at the appropriate number below.
Northwest Bend residents contact (541)385-2692
Northeast Bend residents contact (541)385-2672
Southwest Bend residents contact (541)385-3977
Southeast Bend residents contact (541)385-3942

Sunriver/LaPine Boy Scouts of America will be collecting Christmas trees for recycling in LaPine and Sunriver on Dec. 29 and Jan. 5 according to KTVZ.
Trees should be free of all decorations and left curbside by 9:00 a.m. on the day of pickup.
A $5 donation is appreciated. Checks payable to “Boy Scouts of America” should be sealed in a plastic bag and attached to the top of the tree.

Redmond/Terrebonne/Eagle Crest Boy Scouts of America will be collecting Christmas trees for recycling in Redmond, Terrebone and Eagle Crest on Dec. 29 and Jan. 5 according to High Country Disposal.
Trees should be free of all decorations and left curbside or a location that is visible from the road by 9:00 a.m. on the day of pickup.
A $5 donation is appreciated. Checks payable to “Boy Scouts of America” should be sealed in a plastic bag and attached to the top of the tree.
Residents in Eagle Crest, Terrebonne and outside city limits are advised to call (541)385-3989 to provide their pickup address.  There is no reservation required for all other areas of Redmond.

Madras Madras Swim Team will be picking up Christmas trees on Jan. 1 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. according to The Madras Pioneer.
Donations of $8 per tree go toward scholarships for swimmers in financial need.
Swim team members and their parents will be at drop sites in many Madras neighborhoods collecting Christmas trees for disposal.
Those who need a tree picked up from their home may call the contact numbers listed below for each neighborhood.
Madras Neighborhood drop-off points:
North Madras Heights at 1295 Northeast Clark Drive. Contact Shea or Scott Shierling at (541)475-7467.
Morning Crest Corner at the corner of 16th and Marigold. Contact Tammy or Brian Gregory at (541)475-0554.
Canyon View/Madras Ranchos at the corner of Crestview and Sagebrush. Contact Michelle Gemelas, (541)475-4558 or Kristen and Ben Hocker at (541)475-8207.
Juniper Crest at the Juniper Crest entrance sign. Contact Dawn Gerhardt at (541)475-4330.
Strawberry Heights and The Pines at the main entrance of Strawberry Heights, the front entrance of The Pines. Contact Anita Goodwin at (541)-350-8821.
Sahalee Park at the pavilion on the east side of Sahalee Park. Contact Kevin and Bekki Tucker at (541)325-3808.

Steep fines for illegally dumping Christmas trees

Illegally dumping a Christmas tree could cost you $500 and possibly lead to a Class C Misdemeanor according to Sergeant Todd Fletcher of the Bend Police Department.
Dumping a tree illegally is a violation of the “Flammable Vegetation city code,” Fletcher said, because “it could present a fire hazard.”
A $500 fine is issued for violating the Flammable Vegetation city code.
“Depending on the manner,” Fletcher said, “it could also be littering.”
Littering is a Class C Misdemeanor in Oregon, for which the bale is set at $500, according to Fletcher.
There are serious ramifications for illegally dumping, which is why Fletcher suggests people take advantage of programs offered by Boy Scouts of America and the Knott Landfill.
At no charge, trees can be dropped off at Knott Landfill and other transfer stations around Central Oregon through Jan 31 according to Bend Garbage and Recycling. Contact the Department of Solid Waste for guidelines and transfer station hours at (541)317-3163.
(Contact: [email protected])