What to do with your old Christmas tree

From the New York City Department of Sanitation:

Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia announced that the Department of Sanitation will begin its annual Christmas tree curbside collection program on Monday, January 4. The program will run through Friday, January 15, 2016.

City residents should remove all tree stands, tinsel, lights and ornaments from trees before they are put out for collection. Clean, non-bagged Christmas trees that left on the curb between Monday, January 4 and Friday, January 15, 2016 will be chipped, mixed with leaves, and recycled into rich compost for the city’s parks, institutions, and community gardens.

The Department of Sanitation collected more than 213,000 Christmas trees for “tree-cycling” after Christmas 2014.

“Recycling gives Christmas trees new life,” said Commissioner Garcia. “The tree in our homes now will be chipped and reused as mulch in parks and community gardens throughout the city and enjoyed for the months to come.”

NYC Parks provides two options for tree-cycling; the 20th annual MulchFest event and open drop-off locations. Mulchfest will be held Saturday and Sunday, January 9 and 10, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 30 chipping sites. NYC Parks’ 48 drop-off sites will be accepting trees Saturday, January 2 and through January 10. To find locations, visit the NYC Parks website at nyc.gov/parks. These options allow New Yorkers to drop off their Christmas trees at designated parks for mulching and event attendees can pick up free mulch at some selected locations. All lights, ornaments, decorations and netting must be removed from trees prior to drop-off.

“There are countless ways we can care for our parks, and MulchFest is one of the simplest and most fun,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “With nearly 80 locations to drop off your tree this holiday season, we hope to create more mulch in 2016 than ever before. Thanks to the Department of Sanitation, GreeNYC, our sponsors, and of course, our generous community members who we count on to help keep our trees and plants healthy and nutrient-rich.”

For more information on Christmas tree collection and recycling or MulchFest, visit www.nyc.gov/dsny, www.nyc.gov/parks or call 311.