Give Your Used Christmas Tree a Second Life as Mulch for NYC Parks

We know—all you want to do is keep those holiday decorations up for as long as possible! The apartment just isn’t nearly as cheery without them.

But, if you got a fresh tree from one of your favorite local tree sellers in the neighborhood, your lovely evergreen is probably shedding needles faster than you’re finishing up all your leftover cookies. If you have no idea where/how to dispose of it, have no fear, it’s time for the NYC Parks Department’s annual Mulchfest!

Though it may be a bit of a walk (you’ll just work off more of those holiday sweets), all you have to do is bring your tree to your local participating park and they will grind it into wood chips that will help keep the NYC parks green all year-round.

You must remove all lights, ornaments, and netting before bringing the tree to a Mulchfest site, and bags will be provided if you want to bring some free mulch home to your own garden.

Astoria Park on 19th Street and Hoyt Avenue will be participating on Saturday, January 4 and January 11! That’s likely the closest one to you, but here are a few other nearby locations just in case:

• Queensbridge Park, Vernon Blvd and Queensbridge Park Greenway (Drop-off only)
• Hunter’s Point South Park, 51st Ave and Center Blvd (Long Island City)
• Windmill Community Garden, 39-22 29th St. (Long Island City)
• Travers Park, 78th St. and 34th Ave (Jackson Heights)
• Windmuller Park at Lawrence Virgilio Playground 34th Drive and 54th Street (Woodside)

You can see the full list of parks on their website here.

Mulchfest is taking place from December 26 through January 11.