Scout Troop to Offer Free Pickup of Trees

Boy Scout Troop 127 in Agoura Hills has found a way to make some money, earn credit for community service and help the environment--all at the same time.

Each year, the boys travel the Conejo Valley collecting old Christmas trees from homes and taking the trees to an area recycling center to be made into mulch.

“About three years ago we saw people throwing away Christmas trees in the trash near [Agoura High School],” said 15-year-old Scout James Huang.

And so a community service project was born.

The boys have collected an average of 40 trees each year since the start of the project and--with the help of a Los Angeles County-sponsored tree-recycling program--have kept the trees out of landfills.

The Scouts offer a convenient option for individuals who would like to recycle their trees but don’t have the time or means to take the trees to a recycling center.

The Boy Scouts ask for a contribution of $5 to haul the trees to Gates Canyon Park for recycling.

The money they raise is used for Scouting activities, including outings in the coming year.

The boys will collect trees, which should be free of ornaments, nails and other metals, in the Agoura Hills, Calabasas and Westlake Village areas from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m Saturday.

To request a tree pickup, call (818) 991-3866 in Agoura Hills, (818) 706-3445 in Calabasas, and (818) 889-4956 in Westlake Village.