Recycle your Christmas Tree this holiday season and deliver the community a gift that keeps on giving.
The Southern Nevada Christmas Tree Recycling Committee, a partnership of local businesses and community agencies, manages more than 30 convenient drop-off locations throughout Southern Nevada.
The program runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 15, and recycled trees will be chipped into mulch and used in public gardens and parks across the community. The mulch conserves soil moisture, helps with dust control, and keeps plants and trees healthy.
“Trees are valuable organic material that can be chipped into mulch and keep our local parks beautiful year-round,” said Tara Pike-Nordstrom, UNLV recycling manager and member of the Christmas Tree Recycling Committee. “Plus, with convenient locations throughout Southern Nevada, it’s easier than ever to participate.”
More than 16,000 trees were recycled last year into 141 tons of nutrient-rich mulch. Local landfill volume was spared the equivalent of ten school buses (2,169 cubic yards). More than 243,000 trees – a whopping 2,118 tons – have been recycled since the community-based program began counting trees in 2001.
Las Vegas Boy Scout Troop 96 and Cub Scout Pack 219 will also be collecting trees to recycle for residents who want to recycle but are unable to drop off their trees. The scouts earn a conservation badge and raise funds for their organizations. Visit pack219.org for details.
The Southern Nevada Christmas Tree Recycling Committee is a partnership of local businesses and community agencies, including UNLV’s Rebel Recycling program and the Springs Preserve.
Drop-off Locations
Cut Christmas trees may be dropped off for free at more than 30 Clark County locations. Visit the Springs Preserve website to find the closest drop-off location.
Mulch from cut trees will also be available for free to community members at several valley locations:
- Pecos Legacy Park and Acacia Park from Dec. 28 to Jan. 14. Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Bring your own shovels and containers)
- University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) will have mulch available for pickup at its North Las Vegas Research Center and Demonstration Orchard and its Lifelong Learning Center in Las Vegas. Pickup times vary and residents are encouraged to call UNCE’s Clark County office at (702) 222-3130.
How to prepare your tree for recycling
- Remove all non-organic materials such as lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, tree stands and any other material that are not part of the tree.
- Flocked (sprayed with artificial snow) trees cannot be recycled.
- Trees more than 5 feet tall should be cut in half.
For more information, contact Tara Pike-Nordstom at (702) 895-3760 or tara.pike@unlv.edu.
