Through January 15, the Southern Nevada Christmas Tree Recycling Committee is hosting more than 30 free drop-off locations. The trees are turned into mulch used for gardens and parks across the Valley.  

 “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.” 

The list of more than 30 Clark County drop-off locations is available at springspreserve.org. Trees should be cleared of lights, wire, tinsel, ornaments, nails, tree stands and other non-organic materials that aren’t a part of the tree. Trees sprayed with artificial snow are not recyclable.  

Free mulch pick-up will be available to residents at several Pecos Legacy Park and Acadia Park in Henderson daily 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. through January 19. (Bring your own shovels and containers.) University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s North Las Vegas Research Center and Demonstration Orchard also will offer free mulch Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Extension’s Lifelong Learning Center in Las Vegas will have free mulch available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

A partnership of the UNLV Rebel Recycling Program, the Springs Preserve and more than 30 local businesses and agencies, the committee collected nearly 10,000 trees last year, creating 86 tons of mulch and sparing landfills 1,300 cubic yards of volume. More than 300,000 trees have been recycled since the program started in 2001.