Christmas Tree Disposal in NYC

Making Christmas Tree Disposal Easy and Green As the holiday season winds down, many New Yorkers wonder what to do with their Christmas trees. Fortunately, NYC offers easy, eco-friendly options that keep our city green and beautiful. Here’s how to responsibly recycle your tree and contribute to the city’s parks and gardens.

Curbside Collection with NYC’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY)

How Curbside Collection Works Each January, the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) provides a special curbside collection period for Christmas trees. During this time, DSNY picks up trees from curbsides, chips them, and turns them into compost for city parks and gardens.

Prepping Your Tree for Pickup

  • Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and stands from the tree, as DSNY can’t process decorated trees.
  • Leave your tree unwrapped at the curb—no plastic bags.

When and Where to Put Your TreeDSNY typically collects trees in early January, but the dates vary yearly. Check NYC311 for the exact schedule and additional details.

Give Back to the City with Mulchfest

What’s Mulchfest All About?NYC Parks hosts Mulchfest every year, allowing New Yorkers to recycle their Christmas trees into mulch that enriches local parks and gardens. Trees are collected and chipped into mulch, which helps with soil health and moisture retention and supports the city’s plant life.

Where to Drop Off Your Tree for MulchfestMulchfest has many locations across the city’s five boroughs. Some popular Bronx spots include:

  • Bronx River House Parking Lot at Starlight Park (1490 Sheridan Blvd)
  • Friends of Brook Park Community Garden (E. 141st St. and Brook Ave.)
  • Pelham Bay Park (Middletown Rd. and Stadium Ave.)
  • Van Cortlandt Park – Golf Course (Bailey Ave. and Van Cortlandt Park South)

Mulchfest includes a “Chipping Weekend,” where you can bring your tree to a chipping site and even take home a bag of mulch for your own garden. For the latest info, visit the NYC Parks Mulchfest page.

Getting Your Tree Ready for Mulchfest

  • Like curbside pickup, make sure your tree is free of decorations, lights, and stands.
  • Drop it off at a participating Mulchfest location near you.

What About Artificial Trees?

Recycling and Disposal Options for Artificial Trees Artificial trees can’t be mulched like real trees, but there are other ways to dispose of them. Consider disassembling the metal and plastic parts and recycling them with your household recyclables.

Alternative DisposalIf recycling isn’t possible; you can leave your artificial tree out on a regular trash day. Just remember to remove any decorations and lights.

Why Recycling Your Christmas Tree Matters

The Environmental Impact of Tree Recycling Recycling your Christmas tree is a great way to give back to the city while reducing landfill waste. When you recycle your tree, it’s turned into valuable mulch that supports the health of NYC’s green spaces.

How Mulch Benefits NYC ParksThe mulch made from recycled trees is spread across parks and gardens, helping retain soil moisture, protect tree roots, and keep our city’s outdoor spaces healthy and green.

FAQ: Common Questions About Christmas Tree Disposal

Can I leave decorations on my tree for recycling? No, all decorations, lights, tinsel, and stands need to be removed before you set your tree out.

What if I miss the collection dates? If you miss the DSNY collection or Mulchfest, you can still place your tree out for regular trash collection, but it won’t be recycled or composted.

Can I use a plastic bag for my tree? Avoid using plastic bags. Trees should be left unwrapped for easy collection and processing.

What should I do with smaller items, like wreaths? If you have branches, wreaths, or other small greenery, they can be composted if they don’t have decorations or wires.

Wrap-Up: Doing Good for NYC’s Green Spaces Recycling your Christmas tree in NYC is a simple way to make a difference in our city’s parks and gardens. Whether setting it out for DSNY pickup or joining in Mulchfest, every tree contributes to a greener, more beautiful New York City. For the latest info on dates and locations, visit NYC311 and the NYC Parks Mulchfest page.

Free Estimate (718) 885-0914