The presents have been opened, the stockings unstuffed and the time is coming to take down the decorations and dispose of your Christmas tree.
Beginning Wednesday, January 2, the Department of Sanitation will collect the Christmas trees that have been placed curbside. All trees should be removed of tinsel, lights, ornaments and stands. The program will run through Saturday, January 12.
The trees must not be placed into plastic bags.
The trees will be chipped and turned into compost and spread throughout the city in parks, ball fields and community gardens. More than 140,000 are “tree-cycled” each year.
“The department is very pleased to offer this special recycling service. Providing collection and recycling options for residents is environmentally valuable and benefits our neighborhoods,” said Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty.
The city’s Parks & Recreation Department will also hold a Mulchfest on Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13. Residents can bring their trees to one of the 80 designated locations around the city — 11 in Queens — for mulching. New Yorkers who drop their tree off at the event will also be able to pick up free mulch.
For more information on Christmas tree collection and recycling and/or Mulchfest 2013, visit www.nyc.gov/sanitation, www.nycgovparks.org or call 3-1-1.
Here is a list of Queens Mulchfest locations:
Astoria Park* (19th Street & Hoyt Avenue)
Brookville Park* (Brookville Boulevard between 144th Avenue & Caney Road)
Cunningham Park* (Visitor Parking Lot & 196th Street)
Forest Park Bandshell* (Forest Park Drive, west of Woodhaven Boulevard)
Juniper Valley Park* (80th Street between Juniper Boulevards North & South)
Kissena Park (164th Street at Underhill Avenue)
Land Restoration Project Compound* (Queens Plaza South & 10th Street)
Oakland Gardens/Playground 203* (Springfield Boulevard at 56th Avenue)
Rockaway Beach (Shore Front Parkway & Beach 94th Street)
Roy Wilkins Park (Park entrance at Merrick and Foch Boulevards)
Travers Park* (78th Street at 34th Avenue)
* Free mulch will be provided
