With the holiday season concluded, New Yorkers are tasked with the responsible disposal of their Christmas trees, both real and artificial. Thanks to the expansion of the city’s curbside composting program, residents can now easily dispose of their holiday greenery without waiting for designated days.
According to the NYC Department of Sanitation, city residents can place their real Christmas trees and holiday wreaths at the curb during their scheduled composting and recycling collection days. To ensure proper processing, it is important for residents to remove all decorations, ornaments, and stands from their trees before setting them out. Additionally, trees should not be wrapped in plastic bags.
Once collected, these trees are chipped and combined with leaves, ultimately being recycled into compost or renewable energy for the city. This initiative highlights New York’s commitment to sustainable waste management.
For those looking to dispose of artificial trees, it is recommended to separate the metal base and trunk, placing them in the appropriate metal recycling bin. This ensures that all components are processed in an environmentally friendly manner.
Mulchfest: A Community Recycling Event
Another opportunity for tree recycling comes from NYC Parks through its annual Mulchfest event. Scheduled between December 26, 2025, and January 11, 2026, this program invites New Yorkers to bring their trees to designated Mulchfest locations across the city. Here, trees are transformed into wood chips that nourish urban greenery and contribute to the city’s overall ecological health.
Participants in Mulchfest can take part in “Chipping Weekend” on January 10 and January 11, where they will have the opportunity to take home a bag of mulch. This mulch can be used in backyards or to create a winter bed for street trees, promoting community involvement and environmental stewardship.
According to NYC Parks, more than 52,500 trees were recycled during the 2024 Mulchfest, underscoring the program’s success and the community’s commitment to sustainability.
For those interested in participating in Mulchfest or seeking curbside disposal options, further information and location details are available on the NYC Parks website. This year, as New Yorkers celebrate the end of the holiday season, they also have the opportunity to contribute positively to the environment through these recycling efforts.
