Southern Nevadans can give the community a gift that will last all year round by recycling their Christmas trees after the holiday season.
The Southern Nevada Christmas Tree Recycling Committee, a partnership of local businesses and community agencies, has coordinated a free Christmas tree recycling program for local residents for nearly 30 years.
The program runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 15, with more than 30 convenient drop-off locations available throughout the valley. Recycled trees will be chipped into mulch and used in public and school gardens and parks across the community. The mulch stabilizes the surrounding soil and conserves moisture, helps with dust control, and keeps plants and trees healthy.
“Recycling trees is a true win-win for our community as it spares space in crowded landfills and creates water-smart mulch that traps moisture and adds nutrients to the soil,” said Tara Pike, UNLV sustainability coordinator and member of the Christmas Tree Recycling Committee. “And with convenient drop-off locations throughout Southern Nevada, it’s as easy as ever to participate and carry on a growing local tradition.”
More than 11,700 trees were recycled last year, creating 102 tons of nutrient-rich mulch. The mulch was used by local school gardens, in local parks, and made available to residents throughout the community – and in the process spared landfills of more than 1,560 cubic yards of volume.
Close to 320,000 trees have been recycled since the community-based program began counting trees in 2001. The effort formally began in 1995.
And there are benefits to keeping it real. The majority of fake trees are made of metals and plastics and produced primarily overseas. 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.
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.
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 (UNCE) 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.). Residents are encouraged to call UNCE’s Clark County office with questions during business hours at (702) 222-3130.
How to Prepare 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.
- Consider cutting trees more than 5 feet tall in half.
For more information, contact Tara Pike-Nordstom at (702) 895-3760 or tara.pike@unlv.edu.
