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Community Corner

Recycle Your Christmas Tree!

Bring your tree to MulchFest and watch it get turned into wood chips, or let the Sanitation Department worry about pick-up

We know, it feels like you just put up your Christmas tree, but the holiday’s are over and its time for the old tannenbaum to come down. But what do you do with your old tree?

On January 7 and 8, the Parks Department will hold their annual MulchFest at over 70 locations, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trees can also be dropped off now (though you won’t get to enjoy watching your tree get shredded to tiny pieces).

Nearby chipping locations include Fort Greene Park, Cobble Hill Park, The Amazing Garden, Prospect Heights Community Garden, Prospect Park (Third Street at Prospect Park West and Park Circle at Parkside Avenue) and Brower Park. Drop-offs can also be made at a few other locations, here’s a map to check out what’s closest to you.

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Participants can bring home a bag of mulch to use in their gardens, otherwise mulch made from the trees will be used in city parks, ball fields and community gardens.

“It’s a wonderful way to put old trees to good use, instead of filling up landfills,” Paul Nelson, Prospect Park’s Press Director told Patch. “People can take mulch home, and we can use them in our parks.”

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But if you’re too tired from the madness of the holidays to drag your tree over (or lack the means to transport it at all), the Department of Sanitation will also begin curbside tree pickup and recycling starting January 2, through January 14.

Either way, your tree will be turned into mulch for use by the Parks Department, Nelson said.

All trees to be recycled (curbside or at MulchFest) must be clean and not placed in plastic bags. Tree stands, tinsel, lights, and ornaments must all be removed.

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