Are you missing a sentimental ornament? Did you, perhaps, accidentally leave it on a Christmas tree before handing it off to Scouts to be chipped into bark?

If you happen to have donated the tree -- along with about $10 -- to Boy Scout Troop 728, you might be in luck. Over the years, as the boys cut tree branches off, if they discovered a personalized ornament, they kept it, hoping to reunite family photo orbs and handmade dough decorations with their original owners.

Here's a sampling of what the Scouts have collected. If one of these special ornaments is yours, email Jackie Spisak, the troop's Christmas Tree Recycling Coordinator, at troop728trees@gmail.­­­­­­­­­­com.

-- Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

|

Boy Scout Troop 728

Now back to the business of recycling a Christmas tree: If you haven't already, it's time to decide how you will give holiday greenery the old heave-ho. Fortunately, there are easy ways to deal with unwanted Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands and swags.

Garbage collection services accept trees and other natural holiday decorations as yard debris if they fit inside the bin and are collected on the regularly scheduled pickup day.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Tree preparation requirements vary, but for the most part, all branches must be stripped of ornaments, lights, tinsel, wire, stands, plastic and other added materials. That's because trees are turned into wood chips or compost, and some nonorganic materials can ruin a chipping machine.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Generally, a tree counts as regular yard debris if it fits into the cart with the lid closed. If it doesn't fit, cut the tree into pieces and add it to the cart over time.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

A tree shorter than six feet long can be set next to the cart on the curb while longer trees must be cut; either way, there may be an additional fee for the extra garbage. Some haulers do not accept flocked trees.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Portland residents will be charged an additional $5 by the hauling company to take away trees left at the curb. Trees taller than six feet must be cut in two and the top piece placed in the compost roll cart. Flocked trees are not accepted.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

In Gresham, whole natural trees not in the cart will be assessed an additional $3.56. Trees over six feet need to be cut in half and each half will cost $3.56. Wrapped, flocked trees cost $4.86.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Residents of apartments or condominiums with centralized hauling services should get instructions from the property manager or board of directors to learn if a holiday tree pickup service or event has been arranged.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Otherwise, visit Metro's Find-A-Recycler to determine the closest yard debris recycling facility or seasonal tree recycling event.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Environmentally Conscious Recycling accepts glass, metal, plastic, wood, computers and dry waste material (copiers, concrete, mattresses and most metals) year round at its drop-off site at 12409 N.E. San Rafael in Portland, which is open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday (winter hours). This time of year, it also takes Christmas trees; flocked are $25 and green trees are $2. Call 503-253-0867 or email ecr@ecrrecycling.com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If you need more information and are serviced by Metro, send a question, call 503-234-3000 or contact your garbage hauler.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If you don't want to use curbside service or take your tree to a yard debris processing facility, students and scout troops will recycle your whole tree for a donation.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Sunnyside Environmental School will hold its annual Christmas tree recycling fundraiser 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Jan. 5 and 6 at 3421 S.E. Salmon St. in Portland. Drop-off donations are $5 per tree. Home pickups, at $10 per tree, are available on the east side by reservation only (online or sunnysidetreerecycling@gmail.com). All the money raised benefits the K-8 school's field trip fund. Trees are chipped by Honl Tree Care and used as mulch in the school's garden.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Boy Scout Troop 728 will recycle trees at John Marty Park, 16600 N.W. Paisley Dr. in Beaverton, from 8:30 a.m. to about 1 p.m. on Jan. 5 and 6. Call 503-893-9785 or email troop728trees@gmail.com for more information. Suggested donation is $10-$20.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Boy Scout Troop 870 has been recycling Christmas trees in the Beaverton area for more than 25 years. The cover area is between Southwest Farmington Road, Southwest Murray Boulevard, Southwest 198th Ave. and Southwest Old Scholls Ferry. Pickups are between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Jan. 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19. For more information, email t870trees@yahoo.com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Lake Oswego Boy Scout Troop 230 plans to be at the Yakima Headquarters, 4101 Kruse Way, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Jan. 5 and 6 to accept your greenery, with a suggested donation of $8 per tree and $4 per wreath or garland. "Donations support our scouting program focused on leadership development in the outdoors," says Michael B. Meinhardt, the troop's committee chair.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Tigard Boy Scout Troop 419 will pick up trees from driveways for a $12 donation within the coverage area on Jan. 5, 6 and 12. Pickup is available north to Southwest Hart Road, south to Highway 99W, east to Highway 217 and west to Roy Rogers Road. Call 503-929-3486 or go to troop419ore.com to make arrangements.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Beaverton Boy Scout Troop 618 will accept trees ($10 donation or more) and wreaths ($5 donation) at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 12405 S.W. Butner Road, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Jan. 5 and 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. on Jan. 6. Call or email about curbside pickups: 503-567-9194 or t618treerecycle@gmail.com

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Laurelhurst Scout Troop 22 will host its annual tree recycling event from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Jan. 5 at 935 N.E. 33rd Ave. For home pickups in the Laurelhurst neighborhood, see the map and more information at www.troopwebhost.org/Troop22Portland/Index.htm.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Boy Scout Troop 24 picks up from Caesar Chavez Boulevard to Southeast 60th Avenue between Southeast Belmont and Southeast Division streets (suggested donation of $7-$12 with a check payable to Troop 24; call 503-709-0670). The scouts will be chipping and taking drop-off trees from 9 a.m-4 p.m. on Jan. 5 at the Walgreens parking lot at 940 S.E. 39th Ave. in Portland.

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Jennifer Bell

Boy Scout Troop 423 will pick up trees from driveways for a $12 donation within zip codes 97223 and 97224, on Jan. 5, 6, 12 and 13. Call 503-972-3423 or go to troop423bsa.org/christmastrees/ to make arrangements (credit cards accepted). The wood chips from the trees will be used in Cook Park through a partnership with the City of Tigard.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Boy Scout Troop 198 will be at Forest Heights Village Center, 2061 N.W. Miller Road in Portland, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Jan. 5 and 6, accepting trees for a donation. They also take in the trees at West Tualatin View Elementary School, 8800 S.W. Leahy Road in Portland (email treerecycle198@gmail.com for more information).

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Boy Scout Troop 728

And Boy Scout Troop 870 will pick up your tree on Jan. 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19. For more information, email T870trees@yahoo.com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If this lost ornament is yours, email Jackie Spisak, Boy Scout Troop 728's Christmas Tree Recycling Coordinator, at troop728trees@gmail.­­­­­­­­­­com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Inspect trees grown outside Oregon

If you bought your tree at Walmart, Home Depot or a big box store, Oregon officials ask that you inspect it carefully. The Oregon Department of Forestry warns that some of those trees carry invasive pests that could attack the state's native trees. State foresters suggest careful disposal to reduce the risk to Oregon forests.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Check for an insect called the elongate hemlock scale. It's tiny, about 1.5 millimeters long (0.06 inches), brown with a yellow or orange hue and feeds on the underside of needles, leaving a brown waxy layer.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

The forestry department advises Oregonians who suspect a bug on their out-of-state Christmas tree to email the department, cut up the tree and dispose of it inside plastic bags in a sealed garbage can. Do not leave it in the backyard for an extended period or dump it in a park or forest.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Reuse holiday decor

Shipping peanuts and unpopped bubble wrap can be reused. Donate it to a mail or packaging store or save it for when you need it. Otherwise, it's garbage.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

For DIYers, Organic Gardening offers these other suggestions for post-Christmas trees grown in Oregon and free of invasive pests:

Make mulch: Cut off the boughs and place them on the ground to protect plants.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Protect birds: Move the tree in its stand outdoors for the winter, where it can provide food and shelter for wild birds. Hang a bird feeder or bags of suet.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

A fish home: With the owner's permission, sink your tree in a deep pond to become habitats for fish and aquatic insects. In shallow wetlands, trees can act as barriers to sand and soil erosion.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Turn it into a trellis: Move the tree to a corner of your yard and in the spring set it up in your garden as a trellis for peas or beans.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

Plant it for next Christmas: If you bought a living tree, you'll be able to let it grow until next year.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If this lost ornament is yours, email Jackie Spisak, Boy Scout Troop 728's Christmas Tree Recycling Coordinator, at troop728trees@gmail.­­­­­­­­­­com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

-- Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

|

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If these lost ornaments are yours, email Jackie Spisak, Boy Scout Troop 728's Christmas Tree Recycling Coordinator, at troop728trees@gmail.­­­­­­­­­­com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If this lost ornament is yours, email Jackie Spisak, Boy Scout Troop 728's Christmas Tree Recycling Coordinator, at troop728trees@gmail.­­­­­­­­­­com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If this lost ornament is yours, email Jackie Spisak, Boy Scout Troop 728's Christmas Tree Recycling Coordinator, at troop728trees@gmail.­­­­­­­­­­com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If these lost ornaments are yours, email Jackie Spisak, Boy Scout Troop 728's Christmas Tree Recycling Coordinator, at troop728trees@gmail.­­­­­­­­­­com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If this lost ornament is yours, email Jackie Spisak, Boy Scout Troop 728's Christmas Tree Recycling Coordinator, at troop728trees@gmail.­­­­­­­­­­com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If this lost ornament is yours, email Jackie Spisak, Boy Scout Troop 728's Christmas Tree Recycling Coordinator, at troop728trees@gmail.­­­­­­­­­­com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If these lost ornaments are yours, email Jackie Spisak, Boy Scout Troop 728's Christmas Tree Recycling Coordinator, at troop728trees@gmail.­­­­­­­­­­com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If these lost ornaments are yours, email Jackie Spisak, Boy Scout Troop 728's Christmas Tree Recycling Coordinator, at troop728trees@gmail.­­­­­­­­­­com.

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Boy Scout Troop 728

If this lost ornament is yours, email Jackie Spisak, Boy Scout Troop 728's Christmas Tree Recycling Coordinator, at troop728trees@gmail.­­­­­­­­­­com.

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