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The NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) collects live Christmas trees and wreaths at the curb as part of Curbside Composting service.

You do not need to make an appointment to have your tree or wreath collected. Curbside composting is collected every week on your recycling day.

Make sure to remove all stands, lights, ornaments, and tinsel before placing a tree or wreath at the curb. Do not put trees or wreaths in bags. 

Trees and wreaths that still have items attached cannot be composted.

Live trees are collected, chipped, mixed with leaves, and turned into rich compost for NYC's parks, institutions, and community gardens.

You can drop off your Christmas tree at select City parks for chipping and recycling during Mulchfest. They will chip your tree into wood chips that will be used to nourish other trees.

From December 26 through January 11, you can take your tree to any Mulchfest location during park hours. 

If you bring your tree to a chipping site on January 10 or January 11 between 10 AM and 2 PM you can receive a bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree.

Before you bring your tree to Mulchfest, you must remove any:

  • Plastic bags
  • Lights
  • Ornaments
  • Tinsel
  • Tree stands
  • Netting
  • Other tree-related accessories

Some sites are drop-off only, other sites are actual chipping sites.

Find Mulchfest locations.

Take apart your artificial tree to recycle the base and trunk (pole) with metal, glass, plastic, and cartons on your recycling day. Make sure to remove all lights, ornaments and tinsel before placing at the curb.

Otherwise, set it out as trash on a regular collection day.

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