How to Get Rid of Your Christmas Tree
Christmas is over, folks. You gotta get that tree out of your house while the NYC Department of Sanitation is still picking ’em up. Otherwise, you just might find yourself in July attempting to convince your pals that the desiccated pine in the living room is some kind of edgy art piece (trust us, they won’t…
Christmas is over, folks. You gotta get that tree out of your house while the NYC Department of Sanitation is still picking ’em up. Otherwise, you just might find yourself in July attempting to convince your pals that the desiccated pine in the living room is some kind of edgy art piece (trust us, they won’t buy it).
Here’s a simple, two-step process to properly dispose of your celebratory conifer in Brooklyn.
1. Remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel and residual holiday cheer.
The Department of Sanitation will only recycle naked, natural trees. Leave on the tree stand or any other unnatural decorations and your tree ends up in a land fill.
2. Put your tree out on the curb between Monday, January 4, and Friday, January 15, 2016.
These are the magical days in which sanitation workers will collect unencumbered trees for recycling. They put them in a wood chipper and use the chips for compost in the city’s parks and community gardens. So your tree can help protect and feed the local greenery.
Bonus: Take your tree to a nearby MulchFest on Saturday, January 9 or Sunday, January 10.
You can bring your tree to a chipping location between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. this weekend and keep the resulting wood chips for use in your own garden. Alternatively, according to the Department of Parks and Recreation, you can just drop off your tree at a chipping or drop-off point below:
| Location | Address | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Amazing Garden | 261 Columbia Street | Drop-off only |
| Brower Park | Brooklyn Avenue at Prospect Place | Drop-off only |
| Cobble Hill Park* | Clinton Street at Verandah Place | Chipping |
| Coffey Park | Dwight Street at Verona Street | Drop-off only |
| Fort Greene Park* | Washington Park at Myrtle Avenue | Chipping |
| Gowanus Canal Conservancy | 5th Street at 2nd Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Green-Wood Cemetery | 25th Street at 5th Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Green Space @ President Street | 222 5th Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Lincoln Terrace Park | Buffalo Avenue at East New York Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Maria Hernandez Park* | Suydam Street at Knickerbocker Avenue | Chipping |
| Marine Park* | East 33rd Street at Avenue U | Chipping |
| McCarren Park* | Lorimer Street at Driggs Avenue | Chipping |
| McGolrick Park | Monitor Street at Driggs Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Owl’s Head Park* | 68th Street at Colonial Road | Chipping |
| Prospect Heights Community Farm | 254 St. Marks Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Prospect Park* | 3rd Street at Prospect Park West | Chipping |
| Prospect Park* | Park circle at Parkside Avenue | Chipping |
| Sunset Park | 44th Street at 6th Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Sutter Ballfields | Barbey Street at Sutter Avenue | Drop-off only |
Mulch is available at the chipping sites marked with an asterisk (*).
For more info on NYC tree removal, see the Department of Sanitation’s website.
[Photos by Mary Hautman | Table via Department of Parks and Recreation]
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Actually, Christmas is NOT over. Today is only the third day of Christmas. You would not say “Hanukkah is over!” after only three days, would you?