How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree in New York City

NEW YORK, NY — Another New York City Christmas has come and gone and two city agencies will help New Yorkers responsibly dispose of their Christmas trees and help city parks at the same time.

Starting Tuesday Jan. 3 the Department of Sanitation will be collecting trees for curbside "tree-cycling," and starting Saturday Dec. 31 New Yorkers will be able to bring their trees to a Parks Department drop off recycling site.

For those who want to hold onto the Christmas spirit as long as possible, the Department of Sanitation will end curbside pickup on Jan. 14.

On both Jan. 7 and Jan. 8 New Yorkers will be able to watch their beloved trees be put through the wood chipper at the Parks Department's "Mulchfest." New Yorkers participating in Mulchfest will be able to take home a bag of mulch and know that the rest of their tree will be used to nourish city parks.

Mulchfest recycling locations can be found in all five boroughs of New York City.

"MulchFest is one of the many annual events that I look forward to because it’s such an easy way to show our commitment to caring for parks across the city," Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver said in a statement. "By repurposing Christmas trees we provide plenty of mulch which serves to reinvigorate New York City’s urban forest."

Whether you decide leave your tree out on the curb or take it to Mulchfest, all trees must be stripped of stands, tinsel, lights and ornaments, according to a Department of Sanitation press release.

"Recycling gives Christmas trees a life way past Christmas," said Department of Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia.

"The tree in our homes today will be turned into compost to give life to plants in our city’s parks and community gardens. We thank all residents for taking part in the program."

Photo by arvind grover via Flickr/Creative Commons