From the Boy Scouts to SSC, here are your Christmas tree removal options in Whatcom County

If you bought a Christmas tree this year, you might be wondering what to do with it now that the holiday is in the rearview mirror. From curbside pickup to drop off, here are your options in Whatcom County.

Boy Scouts Christmas tree pickup

In Whatcom County, one of the best resources for Christmas tree disposal isn’t a garbage collection company but the local Boy Scouts of America troops. On Jan. 4, Whatcom County’s Boy Scout troops will collect Christmas trees that are left by the curb outside of homes in the area.

The county is divided by troop, although some areas aren’t covered by the service. You can find which troop is responsible for your area, or if your area is covered at all, on the troops’ online map.

The service only covers houses, not apartments or mobile homes, and people whose houses have gates have to leave their tree outside the gate if they want it to be picked up. Some areas where it’s unsafe to stop, such as parts of Chuckanut Drive without a shoulder, aren’t covered either. If you live in a gated community, you’ll have to leave your tree outside the gate off of a publicly accessible road if you want it to be picked up.

Pickup this year is at 8 a.m., the Troop 4007 assistant scoutmaster told the Herald in an email. You don’t need to contact your local troop for your tree to be picked up, just leave it out front at the right time. The service is free of charge, although the Scouts do accept donations.

Christmas tree compost options

If your area isn’t on any of the troops’ routes, you live in an apartment or mobile home, or you don’t want to wait until January, you’ll still have a few options.

If you have a yard and food waste bin, you can cut up your Christmas tree and place it there, as long as the stump isn’t too wide for collection.

You also can drop your tree off at a composting facility. The Green Earth Technologies composting center in Lynden offers free Christmas tree disposal, as long as you drop off your tree with any decorations removed. Trees are then chipped and mixed with other compostable materials, the company told the Herald.

What about garbage collection companies?

Some garbage disposal centers accept Christmas trees as well. You can arrange for Sanitary Services Company to pick up trees under 6 feet from your curb if you call in advance, or you can drop off your tree at one of their transfer centers. You can check with the company for pricing details.

Nooksack Valley Disposal and Recycling in Lynden will compost your Christmas tree for a $3 fee. Recycling and Disposal Services in Ferndale also accepts trees, at a price of $15 for the first 300 pounds. Republic Services’ Ferndale facility accepts trees at a cost of $18.38 for the first 20 pounds and $0.07 for each additional pound.

You can check the county’s waste and recycling portal for more information.