Photo Courtesy of DSNY
Last year, more than 26,000 trees were recycled during MulchFest.
By Michael V. Cusenza
MulchFest 2018. It’s tree-mendous.
The City Parks and Sanitation departments and GreeNYC have once again teamed up for MulchFest, an annual NYC event that helps residents turn their Christmas trees into wood chips for street shrubbery and gardens throughout the five boroughs.
You can even take home a bag of mulch for yourself.
MulchFest 2018 will take place on Jan. 6 and 7 at select city parks. According to State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach), a member of the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation, four green spaces in his 15th District will be participating this year: drop-off only sites at the parking lot at Beach 11th Street and Beach 94th Street along Shore Front Parkway in Rockaway; combined chipping and drop-off sites at Juniper Valley Park, located at 80th Street between Juniper Boulevard North and South in Middle Village; and Forest Park at Forest Park Drive and Woodhaven Boulevard.
At chipping locations you can bring your tree to be chipped and take home a bag of mulch; at drop-off sites you can bring your tree to be recycled through Sunday, Jan. 7.
“Recycling your Christmas tree is a great environmental way to continue to spread holiday cheer across the city. Your tree will be used in a multitude of ways to help the city’s trees survive the cold season and grow strong in the spring,” Addabbo said. “By taking part in MulchFest, you will be making your city a better, and greener, place to live. Last year, more than 26,000 trees were recycled during MulchFest. Let’s help grow that number even larger this year.”
Addabbo noted that DSNY will also be conducting special curbside pickups for mulching and recycling of “naked” Christmas trees through Saturday, Jan. 13. Naked means no lights, ornaments, and netting.
For more information about MulchFest 2018, visit nyc.gov/parks or call 311.
