Reno, NV (December 28, 2018) — As residents of the Truckee Meadows buy Christmas trees and begin decorating their holiday centerpiece, local nonprofit Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful is spreading the word about what to do with the trees when it’s time to take them down. Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) will be hosting its 25th annual Christmas Tree Recycling program, now through Monday, January 7.
“This is a really fun and festive way to volunteer after the holidays,” says Christi Cakiroglu, Executive Director. “Since this program started 25 years ago, we have diverted 150,000 trees from the landfill and turned them into mulch for weed abatement and landscaping projects in our parks. We have so many wonderful partners and supporters of this program, including the NV Energy Foundation, which has been providing a cash match for every dollar donated, nearly $100,000 over the last eight years to help cover the costs of the program!” In addition to creating mulch to be used for park beautification and projects, Christmas Tree Recycling helps prevent old trees from being left in open spaces or around homes where they pose an unsightly risk for fire danger.
KTMB encourages residents to recycle their Christmas trees (ornament, flocking and tinsel-free) at one of their six community drop-off locations. KTMB is collaborating with the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District to include additional drop-off locations in the outlying communities of Lemmon Valley, Washoe Valley and Spanish Springs. KTMB will also be posting social medial updates throughout the program with #KTMBeautiful.
Local Boy Scouts of Nevada are also offering pickup of trees to be recycled. For residents who would like to pay to have their tree picked up curbside to be taken for recycling, please visit www.nevadabsa.org for more information.
What: KTMB’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program
When: Every day from December 26, 2018 – January 7, 2019. Drop-off sites are open 9am – 4:30pm
Where: Drop-off locations include:
1. Bartley Ranch Regional Park: 6000 Bartley Ranch Rd, Reno
2. Reno Sports Complex @ North Rancho San Rafael Park: 2975 N. Virginia Street, Reno
3. Shadow Mt. Sports Complex: 3300 Sparks Blvd, Sparks
4. Truckee Meadows Fire Station – Spanish Springs: 500 Rockwell Blvd
5. Truckee Meadows Fire Station – Lemmon Valley: 130 Nectar Street
6. Truckee Meadows Fire Station – Washoe Valley: 1240 East Lake Blvd
Suggested Donation: $3 suggested donation to help cover the cost of the program and for every dollar donated NV Energy will match it.
How: This program is for residents only. Commercial tree lots can take their trees to RT Donovan in Sparks. Tree must be free of stands, nails, tinsel, lights, and all other decorations. Flocked trees will not be accepted.
Volunteer: Volunteers are needed to help at the Bartley, Reno Sports Complex and Shadow Mountain locations. Sign up to volunteer at ktmb.org/volunteer or (775) 851-5185.
KTMB’s Christmas Tree Recycling is coordinated by Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful and is made possible by the NV Energy Foundation, Washoe County Health District, City of Reno, City of Sparks, Nevada Division of Forestry, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Washoe County, Nature’s Bakery, and Tholl Fence.
