With fewer families traveling this year for the holidays, sales for live Christmas trees are surging in Southern Nevada. 

When the holidays are over, instead of tossing the tree in the trash, residents are encouraged to recycle it this year and deliver a gift to the community that will keep on giving. 

And it’s never been easier. 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. “We nearly broke a record last year for donations, and with trees flying off the lots this winter we’re hopeful it will happen in 2020. Recycling your tree is a gift that will give back to the community for years to come.” 

Nearly 17,000 trees were recycled last year into close to 148 tons of nutrient-rich mulch. Local landfill volume was spared the equivalent of ten school buses (2,261 cubic yards). More than 260,000 trees – an astonishing 2,266 tons – have been recycled since the community-based program began counting trees in 2001.

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 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 (4600 Horse Dr., NLV 89131) from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; and at its Lifelong Learning Center (8050 Paradise Rd., LV 89123) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

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.

Residents unable to drop their tree at one of the Southern Nevada sites can contact the local company Move It, and for $25 they’ll pick up and recycle your tree. Visit gomoveit.com to learn more, and use the code Tree25 to secure the discounted rate.  

For more information, contact Tara Pike-Nordstrom at (702) 895-3760 or tara.pike@unlv.edu.