New Yorkers looking to get rid of their Christmas trees previously had to rely on special collection days or bring the trees to mulching locations at city parks. Now, they’ll be able to dispose of them on the curb alongside other compostable items.
Composting your Christmas tree is mandatory in New York City, and the sanitation department will collect “naked” Christmas trees – that is, trees without decorations, ornaments or stands – and wreaths on weekly curbside compost collection days. (You can find your collection schedule here.)
Since the sanitation department rolled out curbside organics collection citywide, the trees can be tossed out on the same day sanitation workers arrive to collect food scraps and other organic waste. The trees are treated like other composting materials, such as food scraps, food-soiled paper products and yard waste.
Recycling your tree at the parks department’s annual Mulchfest, which turns trees into wood chips that are used as fertilizer, is still an option. Participating locations for Mulchfest, which runs through Jan. 11, opened on Friday, though you may want to check if your site is open before hauling your tree over as forecasts call for up to 9 inches of snow in some parts of the city.
The sanitation department said it won't collect artificial trees with the compost – those should be separated and recycled.
