Seasonal & Holidays

Here's How To Get Rid Of Your Christmas Tree In NYC

Last week it was a symbol of joy and light. Now it's garbage. Or mulch!

Christmas trees sit on a sidewalk in New York City.
Christmas trees sit on a sidewalk in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY — That's a wrap on Christmas, now get that tree out of the living room before it covers the floor with dry needles and sadness.

New Yorkers can dump Christmas trees on the curb between Jan. 6 and Jan. 17 and the Sanitation Department will chip them up and use them for compost in city parks and gardens, officials said.

But note, they'll only pick up trees that have been cleaned of all their ornaments, lights, stands and any bags you used to get the thing out of your house without making a complete mess.

Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Unwanted artificial trees in fair condition can be donated through donateNYC, or stripped of ornaments and thrown out on regular collection days. If possible, try to take it apart and recycle the base and trunk

New Yorkers can also drop their trees off at one of nearly 70 sites participating in Mulchfest, a Parks Department program that runs from Dec. 26 to 11 this year.

Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

During two Chipping Saturdays — Jan. 4 and Jan. 11 — New Yorkers can receive their very own bag of mulch.

Here are the mulching sites across the five boroughs:

BRONX

  • Brook Park Youth Farm: East 141st Street and Brook Avenue
  • Co-Op City: Co-Op Boulevard and Bellamy Loop
  • Metropolitan Oval Parkchester: Metropolitan Avenue and Unionport Road
  • Pelham Bay Park: Parking lot at Middletown Road and Stadium Avenue
  • Soundview Park: Story Avenue and Morrison Avenue
  • St. James Park: West 192nd Street and Jerome Avenue
  • Van Cortlandt Park: Golf course at Bailey Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park South
  • Williamsbridge Oval Park: Reservoir Place and Reservoir Oval

BROOKLYN

MANHATTAN

QUEENS

STATEN ISLAND

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