Got trees?

The lights all twinkled perfectly, the tinsel glistened just so and then Christmas was over and you ask yourself: "What are we going to do with that beautiful Christmas tree after the holidays?"

You have to save the lights and the decorations. And little Suzy's cotton ball tree ornament has got to go into storage for next year.

But what about the tree itself? You know the one you spent so much time picking out, that had to be perfect and just the right size and color. The one that gave your family so much joy and happiness; the one that is sitting there now stripped of all its decorations. It has to be taken away and has outlived its usefulness.

What are you going to do with it?

"We have a wonderful recycling program valleywide to recycle your tree and help the environment at the same time," said Tara Pike-Nordstrom, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Solid Waste and Recycling manager and sustainability coordinator.

According to information released by Pike-Nordstrom's office, last year about 200,000 trees were purchased in the Las Vegas area and only 15,000 of those made it into the recycling program. What happened to the rest?

"I suppose they went into the landfill. There doesn't appear to be a green waste program for recycling trees. People just put it out on the curb and the sanitation people take it away," she said.

In some areas in California the Boy Scouts have taken on the responsibility for collecting the used trees, according to Pike-Nordstrom. "A few days before Christmas they come around and leave a flyer and an envelope on the front door of homes in certain communities. The flier explains when the Boy Scouts will be coming by to pick up trees and take them to the recycling center and the envelope is for a donation to help defray the expenses."

The UNLV program that Pike-Nordstrom oversees is similar although on a much smaller scale.

" Each holiday season the UNLV Rebel Recycling Program partners with local public and private organizations to reduce holiday landfill waste and to create needed mulch for local parks and public gardens through the recycling of Christmas trees .

"Artificial trees are made from fossil fuels. They are often imported from thousands of miles away utilizing more finite resources and when the trees wear out they ultimately end up in a landfill," said Pike-Nordstrom. "Fresh-cut trees turn carbon dioxide into oxygen as they grow and then when they are recycled, they are returned to nature as mulch, helping to beautify our local parks and conserve water."

Now through Jan. 15, Las Vegans are encouraged to drop off their discarded Christmas trees at one of 21 locations throughout the valley.

The major problem for the program is getting the trees to the staging areas and the chipping stations.

"When someone has hauled (his) tree home and now needs to get it transported to the recycling location it is very difficult sometimes to get it back into the Prius, so it is more convenient to just put it out by the curb," Pike-Nordstrom said.

Assisting Las Vegans with tree pick up, 1-800-GOT-JUNK will come by your home between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. through Jan. 15. For $30 they will remove your tree and vacuum up all pine needles in your home. Trees will be dropped off at one of the designated recycling drop off points. Area residents can call 1-800-468-5865 (1-800-GOT-JUNK) 24 hours a day to schedule a pickup, or book their appointment online at www.1800gotjunk.com and receive a $10 discount.

For a tree to be recycled, all nonorganic materials must be removed . Additionally, any tree taller than 5 feet should be cut in half.

Also, it should be noted that flocked trees cannot be recycled.

For more information, contact Pike-Nordstrom at UNLV Rebel Recycling at 702-895-3760 or visit www.cdsn.org/christmastreerecycling.html .

In addition to accepting Christmas trees for recycling, Las Vegas Springs Preserve also collects used cooking oil for recycling.

According to Julie Chadburn, Clark County Water Reclamation District's Compliance and Regulatory Affairs administrator, working with the Springs Preserve on the oil recycling program is truly gratifying.

"Last year we collected 1,400 gallons of used cooking oil and our goal is 3,000 gallons this year. Our program this year is truly amazing; we recycle to prevent sewer backup and overflow. Our message is 'Don't be a pain in the drain!' Bring your used cooking oil and grease to the Springs Preserve to be safely recycled this holiday season."

Chadburn said recycling your cooking oil is easy. Just use a funnel to carefully pour the used oil back into its original container, seal it, and then bring it to the Preserve's south ticketing parking lot between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., where a special collection receptacle will be available.

"Please take your empty container with you as we do not have the facilities to dispose of them."

Additional information is available at www.paininthedrain.com.