Scouts lead the way on Xmas tree recycling

If you have a real tree, 6 local Scout Groups in Berkhamsted and surrounding areas can help. For a suggested voluntary contribution of £6 per tree, they will pick up your tree on Sunday 7th January 2024 and take it to the Dacorum Council shredder. Pay for your tree collection at www.1stberkhamsted.org.uk/trees

For many who have bought a farm-grown tree, it’s a tricky decision about what do to with it in January.

To encourage tree recycling, Dacorum’s waste services team are again setting up a shredding machine, in Water Lane Car Park, Berkhamsted for one day only: Sunday 7th January 2024. The pine trees are chipped, and these natural chippings are then used to keep council flower beds weed-free across the borough.

Helping local citizens to recycle their Christmas trees are the various Scout Groups from Berkhamsted and the surrounding area, co-ordinated by the 1st Berkhamsted Scout Group.

1st Berkhamsted Group has organised a tree-collection service for over 15 years, where Christmas trees are picked up from people’s houses and taken to the shredding site.

This year 5 other local Scout Groups are also helping: 1st Gossoms End, 1st Northchurch, 1st Potten End, 1st Little Gaddesden and VVV Explorer Group.

“The shredding day is popular, and there is often a queue to drop off a tree”, says Paul Chambers, 1st Berkhamsted Scout Leader.

“We save people time by taking their tree for them in our large vans, which cuts the number of individual cars trips to the shredder. It’s better for the environment, and you don’t have to spend ages clearing pine needles from the back of your car.”

Since launching the service, the local Scouts have helped to transport more than 12,000 Christmas trees for shredding. The charity suggests a minimum voluntary contribution of per tree collected. The collection service involves over 80 volunteers and includes Scouts of all ages.

The funds raised go towards equipment and activities for the children, maintenance of the Scout Huts, and financial support for trips and expeditions for the various local Scout groups.

‘It is a significant group effort with many volunteers and local businesses providing support, but we are proud of the community service we provide’, says Jenny Jenkins, Chair of the 1st Berkhamsted Group.

Tree collections can be booked and paid for in advance at www.1stberkhamsted.org.uk/trees.

The deadline for online bookings is midnight, 6th January.

Alternatively, between 9-3pm on Saturday 6th January, customers can buy a pre-paid collection tag (cash or card accepted) at the Scout Christmas tree stall on Berkhamsted High Street.