Parks and Recreation to Hold 12th Annual MULCHFEST Jan. 5th and 6th

Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty announced today that the Department will begin its annual Christmas tree curbside collection and recycling program on Thursday, January 3, 2008.  The program will run through Wednesday, January 16th. 

Residents should remove all tree stands, tinsel, lights, and ornaments from holiday 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 between Thursday, January 3rd and Wednesday, January 16th will be collected, chipped, and then mixed with leaves to make compost.  The compost will be processed and subsequently spread upon parks, ball fields, and community gardens throughout the city. 

In January 2007, the Department collected over 166,000 discarded Christmas trees.

"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.  Working in conjunction with the City's Parks and 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," said Commissioner Doherty.

The Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting their 12th annual Mulchfest on Saturday, January 5th and Sunday, January 6th from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. at various parks throughout the city.  To find citywide locations, visit the Parks and Recreation website at www.nycgovparks.org.  The citywide service allows New Yorkers to drop off their holiday trees at designated parks for mulching.  All lights, ornaments, and decorations must be removed from the trees prior to drop-off.  Participants will be able to take wood chips and/or mulch from designated chipping sites. 

For more information on Christmas tree collection and recycling and/or Mulchfest 2008, visit www.nyc.gov/sanitation or www.nycgovparks.org or call 3-1-1.