After Christmas this year, don’t toss your tree. Consider recycling it instead, and you’ll give the Southern Nevada community a gift that will last all year round. 

For more than three decades, the Southern Nevada Christmas Tree Recycling Committee – a partnership of UNLV, community agencies, and local businesses – has coordinated a free Christmas tree recycling program for local residents.  

The program runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 15, with more than 30 convenient drop-off locations located throughout the valley. Recycled trees will be chipped into mulch and used in public and school gardens and parks across the community. The mulch conserves soil moisture, helps with dust control, and keeps plants and trees healthy.

“Christmas trees are one of the most recognized traditions of the season, but they can also crowd landfills when they’re thrown away in late December and January,” said Tara Pike, UNLV sustainability coordinator and member of the Christmas Tree Recycling Committee. “Recycling trees creates water-smart and nutrient-rich mulch, and all donations will be used to sustain and beautify our local parks and public spaces.” 

Nearly 10,000 trees were recycled last year, creating 86 tons of mulch. The mulch was used by local school gardens and local parks, and made available to residents throughout the community – and in the process spared landfills of nearly 1,300 cubic yards of volume. 

More than 300,000 trees have been recycled since the community-based program began counting trees in 2001.

Keeping It Real

When it comes to Christmas trees, there are big benefits to keeping it real. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, upwards of 15,000 U.S. farms grow 98% of the more than 25 million real Christmas trees sold each year. Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states and support as many as 100,000 jobs. And for every tree harvested, one to three seedlings are planted in its place the following spring. 

The Southern Nevada Christmas Tree Recycling Committee is a partnership of more than 30 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. 

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.

If you are unable to get your tree to a drop site, a local company called Move It will move it for you. The tree recycling service will cost $25. Visit gomoveit.com to learn more. 

Free Mulch Pick Up

Mulch from cut trees will also be available for free to community members at several valley locations:

• Pecos Legacy Park, Acacia Park, Capriola Park and Discovery Park in Henderson from Dec. 28 to Jan. 19. Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Bring your own shovels and containers)
• University of Nevada Cooperative Extension will have mulch available for pickup at its North Las Vegas Research Center and Demonstration Orchard (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and its Lifelong Learning Center in Las Vegas (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). 

For more information, contact Tara Pike at (702) 810-1393 or tara.pike@unlv.edu.