Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

How To Get Rid of Your Christmas Tree

By Alexandra Leon | December 5, 2016 12:19pm | Updated on January 18, 2017 2:47pm
 New Yorkers have several options for getting rid of their Christmas trees this year, including leaving it on the curb to be sent off for recycling.
New Yorkers have several options for getting rid of their Christmas trees this year, including leaving it on the curb to be sent off for recycling.
View Full Caption
Shutterstock

It's time for your Christmas tree’s final bough.

New Yorkers have several options for getting rid of their trees, from leaving them out on the curb to dropping them off to be recycled into mulch.

Here are some of the ways you can dispose of your tree this year:

Kick it to the Curb

Send your crispy Christmas trees to a better place by leaving them on the curb where they will be collected by the Department of Sanitation and recycled into compost for city parks, institutions and community gardens. All lights, ornaments, stands and plastic bags must be removed, or they will be collected as garbage. 

The deadline to leave your tree out for recycling has been extended through the week of Jan. 23. Christmas trees left outside after the "tree-cycling" period will be collected as garbage. 

DSNY will collect fake trees that are mostly metal or rigid plastic for recycling. Make sure to remove all ornaments and place next to your recycling container on regular recycling days. 

Make Your Own Mulch

Say goodbye to your tree in-person and take home a bag of mulch to remember it by at MulchFest. This year’s MulchFest will take place Jan. 7 and 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations in all five boroughs, according to a parks department spokeswoman. 

Drop off your tree at a designated “chipping location” and watch it turn into mulch that will be used at city parks and gardens. You’ll also get the chance to take home your own bag of mulch. If you’d rather not watch your tree in its final moments, there are a number of drop-off only sites where trees can be left for recycling.

Lights, ornaments and stands must be removed before you drop off your tree. 

Call a Pickup Service

If you’re looking to make your tree disposal as painless as possible, hire a tree expert to do it for you. Local companies such as Tyler’s Trees and NYC Trees, which offer Christmas tree delivery and installation, will also remove them once the holidays are over. 

Tree removal costs range from $50 to $200 depending on tree size for both services. The trees will be taken to a city mulch center for recycling. Tyler's Trees also partners with the New York Restoration Project to plant new trees around the city.

Donate Your Fake

If you’re ready to part ways with your fake tree, consider donating or selling it. Check out donateNYC to find a place to donate or sell fake trees that are in good condition.