UNLV's Rebel Recycling Program is partnering up with local public and private organizations to recycle Christmas trees in an effort to reduce holiday landfill waste and create mulch for local parks and public gardens. From Dec. 26 to Jan. 15, Clark County residents are encouraged to drop off their trees at one of 34 valley locations.

All donated trees will be chipped into rich organic material to be used at public gardens and parks across the valley including the Springs Preserve, City of Henderson parks, Clark County parks and City of North Las Vegas parks. As the mulch decomposes, it will provide many nutrients that plants need to remain healthy and conserve soil moisture.

Each year, it is estimated about 200,000 trees are sold in Las Vegas Valley and only about 7 percent are recycled.

This is the largest Christmas tree recycling effort in Clark County with 13 more recycling sites this year than last. Lowe's has committed to adding drop-off sites at 11 of their 13 Clark County stores. And Boulder City will collect trees for the first time.

"We appreciate the commitment of Lowe's to greatly increase the recycling effort in Clark County," said Tara Pike-Nordstrom, manager of UNLV's Rebel Recycling Program, who is heading up the county-wide effort for the second year. "We hope that Clark County residents will share in our passion and make a pledge to recycle their tree this year and help cut down on carbon emissions, beautify our local parks and conserve water."

Las Vegas Valley residents have recycled 144,739 trees since the program started counting trees in 2001, creating more than 6,947 tons of mulch. Last winter, more than 15,500 trees were recycled, chipped, and turned into 746 tons of nutrient-rich mulch used for landscaping projects and dust control. Local landfill volume was spared 2,113 cubic yards - roughly the equivalent to the size of eight school buses.

Artificial trees are made from fossil fuel and imported from thousands of miles away, requiring more finite resources and ultimately ending up in a landfill. Fresh-cut trees, however, turn carbon dioxide into oxygen as they grow on our country's many farms. When they are recycled they returned to nature as mulch to help conserve water, promote healthy plants and trees, and prevent dust.

For $30, 1-800-GOT-JUNK will remove your tree and vacuum up all pine needles. Services run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Dec. 26 through Jan. 15. Trees will be dropped off at one of the designated recycling drop off points. Customers can call 1-800-468-5865 (1-800-GOT-JUNK) 24 hours a day to schedule a pick up or book their appointment online at www.1800gotjunk.com to receive a $10 on-line booking discount.

Cut Christmas trees may also be dropped off at any of the following locations and for the first time this year, residents can search the Springs Preserve Christmas Tree Recycling website to find the closest drop-off location:

Boulder City

• Bravo Ball Field Parking Lot (corner of Sixth Street & Avenue B)

North Las Vegas

• Aviary Park - 6650 Aviary Way & I-215
• Cheyenne Sports Complex - 3500 E. Cheyenne at Pecos
• Craig Ranch Golf Course - 628 W. Craig Road at Commerce
• Lowe's: 2570 E. Craig Road
• Seastrand Park - 6330 Camino Eldorado near Centennial Parkway & I-215

Henderson

• Acacia Park - 50 Casa Del Fuego St., I-215 at Gibson
• Anthem Hills Park - 2256 Reunion Drive at Anthem Parkway
• Arroyo Grande Sports Complex, 298 Arroyo Grande Blvd
• Lowe's: 1401 S. Boulder Highway
• Lowe's : 440 Marks Street
• Mission Hills Park - 551 E. Mission Drive at College
• Pecos Legacy Park - 150 Pecos Rd.
• Whitney Ranch Recreation Center - 1575 Galleria Drive, near Russell Rd. & Whitney Ranch Drive
• Morrell Park - 500 Harris St. at Basic Rd.

City of Las Vegas/Clark County

• Bruce Trent Park - 8851 Vegas Drive, Vegas Dr. & Rampart
• Desert Breeze Park - 8275 Spring Mountain Rd. at Durango (Behind the Community Center)
• Las Vegas Springs Preserve- 333 S. Valley View Blvd.
• Lone Mt. Park - 4445 N. Jensen near Jensen & Helena
• Lowe's locations including: 2465 N. Nellis Blvd., 5050 S. Fort Apache Road, 7550 W. Washington, 4625 W. Charleston Blvd., 6050 W. Craig Road, 5825 S. Eastern Avenue, 7751 N. El Capitan Way, 2875 E. Charleston Blvd.
• Nevada Division of Forestry Nursery- Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, 9600 Tule Springs Rd., near US 95 North at Durango
• Sunset Park - 2601 E. Sunset at Eastern
• Sunny Springs Park - 7620 Golden Talon Ave. near Elkhorn Rd & Farm Rd.
• UNLV Rebel Recycling Program- Flamingo & Swenson, southeast corner behind three solar dishes/UNLV solar site

Nellis Airforce Base

Recycling Center, Building 461

Southern Highlands

• 12200 Southern Highlands Parkway

Summerlin

• RC Willey - 3850 S. Town Center Dr., Town Center & 215

How to prepare your tree for recycling

1. 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.
2. Flocked (sprayed with artificial snow) trees cannot be recycled.
3. Trees more than 5 feet tall should be cut in half.

2013 Christmas Tree Recycling Partners

The Christmas Tree Recycling program is a partnership throughout the valley between the following organizations: City of Boulder City, City of Henderson, City of North Las Vegas, City of Las Vegas, Clark County Parks and Recreation, Clear Channel Outdoor, Conservation District of Southern Nevada, Cox Communications, Desert Green, First Choice Tree Service, Las Vegas Valley Water District, Lunas, Lowe's, Maplethorpe's Christmas Trees/Frosty's, Christmas Trees, MGM Resorts International , Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, Nevada Division of Forestry, Opportunity Village, PAR 3 Landscape & Maintenance, Inc., RC Willey, Republic Services, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas Springs Preserve, Star Nursery, Summerlin, UNLV Rebel Recycling Program, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Vermeer Sales Southwest, SB Landscaping, Valley Crest Landscaping and 1-800-GOT-JUNK.

For more information, contact Tara Pike-Nordstrom at UNLV Rebel Recycling at (702) 895-3760 or read about Tree Recycling on the Springs Preserve website or Southern Nevada Christmas Tree Recycling Facebook page.