MARYSVILLE — Local Boy Scout troops were able to earn a little extra green by going green when they held a city-wide Christmas tree recycling day Jan 3.

In what has turned out to be their largest annual fundraiser, Scouts from four local troops — 80, 81, 82, 84 and 419 — went door-to-door and handed out approximately 15,000 donation envelopes to homes in the area in early December reminding local residents about the annual tree recycling event. Residents could either leave their Christmas tree at the curb where it was picked up by the Scouts, or they could drop it off at Jennings Memorial Park.

Marlene Hazard, who’s with Boy Scout Troop 80, said the Scouts have been doing the tree recycling for the past 16 or 17 years and each year local residents have become more aware of the project. “We had phone calls in August and September from people wanting to know if we would be doing it again this year,” said Hazard. “The community has been extremely supportive of the Scouts.”

On the day of the collection, Scouts and their Troop leaders fanned out across the city in pick-up trucks, vans and pulling trailers to collect the trees. Others were on hand at Jennings Park to collect the trees being dropped off. Staff from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department were on hand with a chipper which turned the trees into mulch which will be used in the spring in city parks.

“We have a great relationship with the Scouts,” said Mike Robinson, Parks Maintenance Manager. “We love having the Boy Scouts as a partner in this program.”

Robinson said that approximately 100 yards of mulch would be produced by chipping the Christmas tress. That mulch is used for the trails around Jennings Memorial Park and Robinson said that some of the mulch may be used in the city’s new Strawberry Fields Off-leash Park. “Not only do the Scouts collect the tress, they’ll come back in March to spread the mulch around the trails in the park.”

Hazard praised the Scouts, the city and the community for their collaboration on this program. “This is a great program and everyone benefits. The Scouts are able to raise funding, the community is able to recycle their Christmas trees, and the city parks benefit,” said Hazard. “I want to thank everyone for their support.”