Christmas has come and passed and soon it's time to take down those decorations - and now what to do to with the tree? The city has a few options to "treecycle" your Christmas tree.
DSNY Curbside Collection
The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will begin its annual Christmas tree curbside collection program on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 through Saturday, January 13.
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 left on the curb will be chipped, mixed with leaves and recycled into rich compost for the city's parks, institutions and community gardens.
In 2016, the DSNY collected more than 242,000 Christmas trees for "tree-cycling," an increase of 13 percent over the previous year. And the city isn't only picking up "real" trees. Those wishing to dispose of mostly plastic and metal Christmas trees should remove all ornaments and put them out next to their recycling on regular recycling days.
"While Christmas trees are in our homes for only a short period of time, recycling can give them a longer life," said Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia. "After collection, the trees are 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."
MulchFest
Join NYC Parks, the New York City Department of Sanitation , and GreeNYC to recycle your Christmas trees into wood chips. These wood chips are used to nourish trees and plants on streets and gardens citywide.
Mulchfest will be held Saturday and Sunday, January 6 and 7, 2018—from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm—at 30 chipping sites. The parks department's 48 drop-off sites will be accepting trees beginning Saturday, January 2, and through January 10.
"The real fun begins when the ornaments are taken off and the tinsel comes down — because that means it's MulchFest time," said Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver. "MulchFest is a holiday tradition for NYC Parks, extending the spirit of giving and warmth all year round by turning old Christmas trees into mulch for parks and gardens
These options allow New Yorkers to drop off their Christmas trees at designated parks for mulching. Event attendees can also take home free mulch to use in their own backyards or to make a winter bed for street trees.
Below see a list of all Mulchfest locations in Brooklyn:
Brooklyn
| Location | Address | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Amazing Garden | Columbia Street and Carroll Street | Drop-off only |
| Brooklyn Bridge Park* | Plymouth Street and Adams Street | Chipping |
| Brower Park | Brooklyn Avenue at Prospect Place | Drop-off only |
| Cobble Hill Park* | Clinton Street and Verandah Place | Chipping |
| Coffey Park | Dwight Street and Verona Street | Drop-off only |
| Fort Greene Park* | Washington Park and Myrtle Avenue | Chipping |
| Gowanus Canal Conservancy* | Fifth Street & Second Avenue | Chipping - Sunday only |
| Green Space at President Street | 222 Fifth Avenue and President Street | Drop-off only |
| Herbert Von King Park | Marcy Avenue and Lafayette Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Linden Park | Linden Boulevard and Vermont Street | Drop-off only |
| Maria Hernandez Park* | Suydam Street and Knickerbocker Avenue | Chipping |
| Marine Park* | East 33rd Street and Avenue U | Chipping |
| McCarren Park* | Lorimer Street and Driggs Avenue | Chipping |
| McGolrick Park | Monitor Street and Driggs Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Owl's Head Park* | 68th Street and Colonial Road | Chipping |
| Prospect Heights Community Farm | 254 St. Marks Avenue, between Underhill Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Prospect Park* | Third Street and Prospect Park West | Chipping |
| Prospect Park* | Park circle at Parkside Avenue | Chipping |
| Red Hook Park | Lorraine Street and Henry Street | Drop-off only |
| St. John's Recreation Center | Bergen Street between Troy Avenue and Schenectady Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Sunset Park | 44th Street and 6th Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Transmitter Park | Greenpoint Avenue between West Street and the East River | Drop-off only |
| Washington Park | Third Street and Fifth Avenue | Drop-off only |
Mulch is available at the chipping sites marked with an asterisk (*). Please remember to remove all lights, ornaments, and netting before bringing the tree to a MulchFest site. Bags will be provided if you wish to take some free mulch home.
