Make It A Green Christmas: Recycle Your Tree (And Help The Boy Scouts, Too)

By now (unless you're Eastern Orthodox Christian) the presents are unwrapped and the only thing under the tree is fallen pine needles.

But you have one more gift to give: the tree itself.

The Grant Park Conservancy, as in years past, is collecting undecorated Christmas trees on Jan. 7 — this Saturday — to be used in recycling and conservation efforts in .

This year's "Bring One for the Chipper" will feature and a chipper onsite to make the mulch that will be used on park grounds.

The collection and chipping will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the park's Fort Walker entrance at the southern end of the Boulevard parking lot.

If you can't get there, for a $10 donation, the Webelos Cub Scout Pack 688 will pick up the tree from your home and take it to Grant Park for mulching. Cub Scout Pack 688, which will go to homes in the Grant Park, Ormewood Park and East Atlanta neighborhoods, is trying to raise money to take part in a Red Cross First Aid class.

The Scouts, who will be transporting trees to the park from 10 a.m. to noon, will accept cash and checks.

If you want the Scouts' door-to-park pickup service, please send an e-mail to bryan@gossmark.com before Saturday. Include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address. Pack leaders will contact you with an approximate pick-up time.