Photo: Astoria Park Alliance
Jan. 3, 2017 By Nathaly Pesantez
The city is hosting its annual “MulchFest” this weekend, an environmentally-friendly event where Christmas trees can be recycled and turned into mulch.
MulchFest will take place on Jan. 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a variety of locations through the five boroughs, including Astoria Park and Queensbridge Park in Long Island City.
The Christmas trees can either be brought to a chipping location or a drop off site. Participants at chipping sites, like Astoria Park, can watch their tree get chipped in front of them. The wood chips will be used by the city to nourish trees and plants on streets and gardens citywide. A bag of mulch can also be taken home.
Drop off sites, like at Queensbridge Park, allow participants to leave their tree and have it recycled later.
The trees must have all lights, ornaments, and netting removed before they are brought to a MulchFest site.
Those who can’t make it to a MulchFest location can also leave their bare tree out on the curb for a special mulching and recycling collection. The collection will run from Jan. 2 through Jan. 13.
MulchFest, organized by NYC Parks, the Department of Sanitation, and GreeNYC, saw 26,000 trees recycled last year.
For a complete list of all drop-off and chipping sites in the five boroughs, click here.
Nearby MulchFest Locations are:
Astoria Park (chipping site)
19th Street and Hoyt Avenue
Queensbridge Park (drop-off only)
Vernon Boulevard and Queensbridge Park Greenway
