Tree trimming offered – Allied Waste will only pick up Christmas trees that have been trimmed. Daily Journal

To avoid streets littered with tinsel-covered Christmas trees in Burlingame, Boy Scouts Troop 156 is offering to cut trees into four-foot pieces this year. Last year, trees lined the streets since residents failed to realize a policy change by trash contractor Allied Waste. Although drivers for Allied Waste, the garbage company which serves Burlingame, picked up whole trees in the past, it now will only pick up trees cut up into four-foot or smaller increments. The scoutmaster said the scouts have this thing about saws. They just love saws,? said Mayor Terry Nagel. As a community service project the local Boy Scouts Troop will saw discarded trees beginning Tuesday, Jan. 2. Interested residents should call Scoutmaster Jim Latimer at 345-0841 or e-mail him at jlatimer@gilead.com at least two days prior to their tree recycling day. The service is free but those wishing to make a contribution to the troop can send a check made out to Boy Scout Troop 156 to Latimer at 2634 Isabelle Ave., San Mateo 94403.

Cutting the trees can be difficult for older citizens. Allied Waste will honor special requests for those who cannot cut up their tree. For more information call 592-2411. The change was put in place for the safety of the drivers. There is no deadline but trees must be without a base, not in a bag, free of ornaments, cut into manageable pieces and outside before 6 a.m. on the scheduled recycling pickup day. Flocked trees cannot be accepted.

Click here for press release on City website.

– Written by Fiona