NEW YORK CITY — We may be right in the middle of the holiday season, but soon the ball will drop and we'll all be staring soberly into into the cold(ish?) reality of 2016. Holiday lights will be unplugged and dry Christmas trees taken down.
When it comes to getting rid of those trees, you've got a few options including a some that won't cost you a thing.
► Curbside Pickup
Sanitation workers will pick up trees left on the curb for composting from Monday, Jan. 4 through Friday, Jan. 15. Make sure to remove all lights, ornaments, stands and plastic bags.
The trees will be chipped and then used as compost for city parks.
You can also set out plastic or metal trees during recycling days. Again, just make sure you remove all the decorations.
► Mulch Fest
We are just a few short weeks from Mulch Fest 2016. On Jan. 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. you can bring your holiday tree to a participating park to turn it into wood chips.
The chips will be used in city parks or you can take home your own bag of mulch in preparation for your spring garden.
More than 30,000 trees were recycled last year, according to the parks department.
Check the Mulchfest website for drop off locations.
Private Pickup
If waiting to schlep your tree down to the curb on Jan. 4 seems like too much of a hassle, you can always pay someone to pick it for you. Companies like Tyler’s Trees and NYC Trees can do the heavy lifting for you with prices starting at $50, depending on size.
You will be able to schedule tree removal starting on Dec. 20. Both services will start right after Christmas and run through mid to late January.
NYC Trees will also turn your holiday greenery into mulch, so you can feel a little less guilty about paying someone to do your dirty work.
They currently service Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn, but will do their best to accommodate you if you live in Staten Island or The Bronx. Just send them an email to info@nyctrees.com to see what you can work out.