Recycle your Christmas tree this year and give it a second life as a gift to your community. Beginning Dec. 26 and continuing through Jan. 15, Southern Nevadans are encouraged to drop off their Christmas trees at UNLV's Rebel Recycling Center or one of 20 other convenient locations throughout the Valley.

Through a partnership between The Springs Preserve, UNLV and a host of local organizations, donated trees will be chipped into mulch and used to both beautify local public parks and gardens and keep plants healthy by conserving soil moisture.

Since the program began in 2001, Las Vegas valley residents have recycled 78,754 trees, saving needed landfill space and creating 685 tons of mulch! Since 2006 we've broken the 10,000 tree mark each year and nearly 12,000 trees were recycled last season.

Before dropping off a tree, all non-organic objects such as lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments and nails must be removed. Foreign objects contaminate the mulch and damage the chipper. Flocked (sprayed artificial snow covered) trees cannot be recycled.

The UNLV drop-site is at the Rebel Recycling Program office on the corner of Flamingo Rd. and Swenson St., behind the UNLV Solar Site. For a complete list of drop-sites, and for information on how you can have your tree picked-up, please visit The Springs Preserve Christmas Tree Recycling Program or call (702) 822-7700.