FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PR- 003-06 January 3, 2006 MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES MULCHFEST 2006 Holiday Tree Recycling to Take Place in All Five Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Department of Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty today announced the 10th annual MulchFest, a citywide event where New Yorkers can recycle and convert their holiday trees into wood chips. This year, 39 recycling sites citywide have been designated to accept trees on Saturday, January 7 and Sunday, January 8. At many of the tree drop-off locations, chippers will be on hand and the public will be able to take home mulch for their own gardens and plants. The Department of Sanitation will also be collecting trees from curbside and transporting to recycling sites from Wednesday, January 4, through Saturday, January 14. Today's announcement was made in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. "For a decade, New Yorkers have had the option of disposing of their holiday tress in an environmentally-friendly way through MulchFest," said Mayor Bloomberg. "It ensures that thousands of trees find new life, as recycled mulch, useful for any City garden or street tree pit. I urge all New Yorkers to recycle their holiday trees and wreaths at the nearest participating park. It's a great way to start the year and will help keep New York City greener and more beautiful." "MulchFest is a great and easy opportunity for city residents to contribute to a cleaner and healthier New York," said Commissioner Benepe. "By recycling their holiday trees, New Yorkers are reducing the waste stream heading for landfills and helping trees, plants and shrubs grow, which helps provide oxygen and filter pollutants." "Sanitation is pleased to partner with the Parks Department in recycling discarded Christmas trees," said Commissioner Doherty. "The reusable, environmentally-friendly mulch that is created from the chipping will become a gift to the public that keeps on giving and will nurture a cleaner, greener New York." Last year, 165,157 Christmas trees were collected and recycled by the City - 8,400 trees through MulchFest. The mulch from last year's trees was used throughout the year to nurture New York City's greenspaces. Trees must be dropped off at designated MulchFest locations on January 7 and 8 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. All lights, ornaments, and decorations must be removed from the trees before drop-off. Trees should not be placed in plastic bags. New Yorkers are also encouraged to take neighbors' trees to designated sites, to team-up with others to collect and recycle as many trees as possible, and to bring along bags for the wood chips available at specified sites. Wood chip mulch moderates soil temperatures, helps retain moisture, prevents compaction, and deters weed growth, while slowly adding nutrients to the soil. Wood chips may be used to line street tree pits and flowerbeds in parks. The chips insulate the soil around the base of the tree, reduce soil compaction, increase moisture, and prevent salt-shock. Wood chips may also be used in homes and gardens to enrich soil and control weeds. Below is the list of this year's designated MulchFest sites. Chipper sites are noted with an asterisk (*). For more information, please log on to www.nyc.gov or call 311.
MEDIA CONTACT: Edward Skyler/ Virginia Lam (212) 788-2958 Warner Johnston (Parks & Recreation) (212) 360-1311 Vito Turso (Sanitation) (646) 885-5020 |
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