City Pines For Evergreens At ‘Mulchfest’
Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty announced that the Sanitation Department (DSNY) began its annual Christmas tree curbside collection and recycling program on Tuesday, Jan. 3 and will continue through Saturday, Jan. 14.
Residents should remove all tree stands, tinsel, lights, and ornaments from trees before they are put out at curbside for removal. Trees must not be placed into plastic bags.
Clean, non-bagged Christmas trees that are left at the curb through Jan. 14 will be collected, chipped, and made into compost. The compost will be processed and subsequently spread upon parks, ball fields, and community gardens throughout the city.
Typically, the DSNY collects over 140,000 discarded Christmas trees every year.
“The [DSNY] is very pleased to offer this special recycling service. Providing collection and recycling
–SEE MULCH ON PG. 56- options for residents is environmentally valuable and benefits our neighborhoods,” said Doherty. “Working in conjunction with the city’s Parks & Recreation Department allows residents to take part in the recycling process and permits them to even reuse their composted Christmas trees to fertilize for the spring. Compost is a natural fertilizer and is an excellent soil enrichment that promotes the healthy growth of plants and grass.”
Doherty referred to the Parks Department’s Mulchfest 2012, which will be held this coming weekend on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 7-8, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 70 participating parks across the five boroughs.
The citywide service allows New Yorkers to drop off their holiday trees at designated parks for mulching and event attendees can pick up free mulch. All lights, ornaments, and decorations must be removed from the trees prior to drop-off.
Locally, residents can drop off their live Christmas trees at Mulchfest events being held at the following parks:
– Astoria Park, at 19th Street and Hoyt Avenue in Astoria (chipping);
– Forest Park Bandshell, on Forest Park Drive west of Woodhaven Boulevard (chipping);
– Juniper Valley Park, at 80th Street between Juniper Boulevards North and South in Middle Village (chipping);
– Maria Hernandez Park, at Knickerbocker Avenue and Suydam Street in Bushwick (drop-off point only);
– McCarren Park, at Driggs Avenue and Lorimer Street in Williamsburg (chipping);
– McGolrick Park, at Monitor Street and Driggs Avenue in Greenpoint (drop-off only); and
– Travers Park, at 78th Street and 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights (chipping).
For more information on Christmas tree collections and Mulchfest, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/parks or www.nyc.gov/sanitation.
