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Christmas Tree Recycling in the Reno and Sparks Area

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About the KTMB Christmas Tree Recycling Program

The annual Christmas tree recycling program, sponsored by Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) and other public and private organizations, will run from December 26, 2025 through January 11, 2026, daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This program is an excellent way to give your Christmas tree a new purpose while keeping it out of the landfill or letting it be illegally dumped in our open spaces. To help KTMB fund this and other projects throughout the year, a donation of $5 per tree is requested.

Christmas trees are turned into mulch and used for park and weed abatement projects. Residents can pick up free mulch at the Bartley Ranch Park and Rancho San Rafael Park drop-off sites.

The Christmas tree recycling program accepts natural trees with all ornaments, lights, tinsel and stands removed. Flocked trees are not accepted. However, the program will collect unwanted Christmas lights for recycling.

Where to Recycle Christmas Trees

Drop-off times are the same at each site - 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.

• Reno Sports Complex at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 2975 N. Virginia Street in Reno
• Bartley Ranch Regional Park, 6000 Bartley Ranch Road (off Lakeside Drive) in Reno
• Shadow Mountain Sports Complex, 3300 Sparks Boulevard (Shadow Lane entrance) in Sparks
• Truckee Meadows Fire Station 46 in Spanish Springs, 500 Rockwell Blvd.
• Truckee Meadows Fire Station 44 in Stead, 10575 Silver Lake Blvd.
• Truckee Meadows Fire Station 32 in Washoe Valley, 1240 East Lake Blvd.

The Christmas tree recycling program depends on volunteers to help at the collection locations. You can sign up online and choose the location where you would like to work. For more information or to volunteer by phone, call (775) 851-5185. Christmas tree recycling is 7 days a week from December 26, 2025 through January 11, 2026. Shifts are available every day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and volunteers under 18 must volunteer with an adult.

Volunteers help with Christmas tree recycling at Bartley Ranch Regional Park in Reno. Photo © Stan White

Trees of any size can be taken to 958 Lakeshore Blvd. (overflow parking lot) from December 26, 2025, to January 29, 2026. Trees must be cleaned of all decorations, nails and tree stands. Trees are chipped for local erosion control projects.

Waste Management will collect clean trees for recycling on regular trash days only during the week of January 12 to 16, 2026. Trees must be cut into 3 foot or smaller lengths and clean of decorations, nails and tree stands. Only available for Incline Village and Crystal Bay residents.

Waste Management will provide curbside Christmas tree collection for Carson City residents from December 26, 2024 to January 15, 2025 at no additional cost. Trees must be free of decorations, nails, stands or flocking. Trees must be cut into sections less than six feet long for collection on your regular service day.

Drop-off bins will be available at the following locations:

• Carson City Public Works Yard on Airport Road between E. Fifth Street and Butti Way.
• Waste Management parking lot at 5560 Sheep Drive.
• Carson City Landfill (Green Waste Pile) at 3600 Flint Drive

After January 15, 2025, take trees to the Carson City Landfill or place the tree in 3-foot pieces in the yard waste garbage bin provided by Waste Management. After January 15, please take trees to the landfill. Trees left curbside after the 15th will not be collected. For more information, contact Carson City Environmental Control Authority at (775) 887-2355 x7376, 7380 or 7390.

Between December 22, 2025 and January 11, 2026, drop off your Christmas tree at one of the below locations OR leave your tree out with your regular trash the week of January 5 - 9, 2026 for curbside collection. Trees collected curbside must be cut in three foot segments and placed next to your trash can before 6 a.m. on your trash day.

• Truckee High School Soccer Fields, 11725 Donner Pass Rd.
• Tahoe Donner Northwoods Clubhouse, 11509 Northwoods Blvd.
• Legacy Trail Parking Lot, Glenshire Drive.
• Car Rental Parking Lot at Truckee Tahoe Airport.

Scouts 4 Trees will come pick up Christmas trees at your home. The donation is $20 per tree. The program helps support many Scouts in the Reno / Sparks area to be able to enjoy monthly camping, leadership training, summer adventures, and so much more. Available dates are January 3, 2026, January 4, 2026, and January 10, 2026. You must sign up online ahead of time for this service. Visit the website for more details about available times and registration. Sponsored by Scouting America Nevada Area Council.

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