NYC Parks will be collecting holiday trees at Mulchfest locations between Dec. 26, 2021 – Jan. 9, 2022. NYC Parks will also host Chipping Weekend on Sat. 1/8 & Sun. 1/9. Bring your tree to a Mulchfest location during park hours. Your tree will be turned into wood chips that will be used to nourish trees and make NYC greener. Free bags of mulch are available. Please remove all lights and ornaments before bringing your tree to a Mulchfest site. More than 29,000 trees were recycled last year. Help us top this number this year! For more information, visit www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/festivals/mulchfest 

The New York City Department of Sanitation will be collecting Christmas trees set out curbside between Thursday, January 6 – Saturday, January 15, 2022 (barring any delays that may be caused by snow events.) Christmas trees are collected separately from trash and recycling, and patience is appreciated as pick-up may not occur immediately. Trees are collected with other trees, and the Department scouts trees at the curb to make efficient routes.

Residents choosing to take advantage of DSNY curbside collection should remove all stands, tinsel, lights and ornaments before putting trees out for collection. Do not wrap trees in plastic bags. After collection, the Christmas trees will be chipped, mixed with leaves, and recycled into compost for the city’s parks, institutions and community gardens.

Those needing to get rid of mostly plastic and metal artificial Christmas trees should consider selling or donating them. Donation opportunities may be found at nyc.gov/donate. Otherwise, if possible, take apart your tree to recycle the base and trunk (pole) with metal, glass, plastic and cartons. Remove all lights, ornaments and tinsel before placing at the curb.

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