Mulchfest is here: How to recycle your Christmas tree in NYC

The holidays are officially over, and it’s time to face the facts: that giant Christmas tree in your living room has got to go. Thankfully, the city’s Parks and Sanitation Departments make it easy with Mulchfest, a sustainable way to recycle your tree. Through January 12, New Yorkers can drop off their trees at 75 sites across the five boroughs to be composted. Bring your tree to one of 35 chipping sites on the weekend of January 11 and take home a “tree-mento”—a bag of mulch for your backyard or a street tree’s winter bed.

The mulch from recycled trees improves plant life across the city and repurposes wood that would otherwise end up sitting in landfills. From street trees to park foliage, the city’s diverse plant life benefits significantly. Last year, more than 46,600 trees were recycled, according to Parks.

“Mulchfest is as much about nourishing our city’s living infrastructure as it is about building community, by bringing neighbors together to practice sustainability and environmental responsibility. Last year, New Yorkers truly outdid themselves, recycling over 46,000 trees, and we’re hoping to better that total for 2025,” NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said.

“We’re grateful to everyone who helps make this event a success each year, especially our partners at Citi. Let’s make Mulchfest 2025 one to remember!”

After removing all lights, ornaments, and accessories from your Christmas tree, drop it off at one of 74 sites across the city:

Bronx
Bronx River House Parking Lot at Starlight Park
Friends of Brook Park Community Garden
Co-Op City
Metropolitan Oval Parkcheter
Pelham Bay Park
Soundview Park
St. James Park
Van Cortlandt Park – Golf Course
Williamsbridge Oval Park

Brooklyn
Amazing Garden
Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 3 Plaza
Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 5 at Bridge Park Drive
Brooklyn Bridge Park – Dock Street Entrance
Brooklyn Bridge Park – Jay Street Entrance
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Brower Park
Cobble Hill Park
Coffey Park
Domino Park
Fort Greene Park
Green Space at 222 Fifth Avenue
Herbert Von King Park
Maria Hernandez Park
Marine Park
McCarren Park
McGolrick Park
Myrtle Village Green
Owl’s Head Park
Prospect Park – Lincoln Road and Ocean Avenue
Prospect Park – Park Circle at Parkside
Prospect Park – West and Third
Sunset Park
Washington Park

Manhattan
Carl Schurz Park
Central Park – East 106th Street
Central Park – West 67th Street
Central Park – West 81st Street
Brigadier General Charles Young Playground
Corlears Hook Park
DeWitt Clinton Park
Inwood Hill Park
J. Hood Wright Park
Marcus Garvey Park
Morningside Park
Randalls Island
Riverside Park
St. Nicholas Park
Stuyvesant Town
Tompkins Square Park
Union Square Park
Washington Square Park

Queens
Astoria Park
Captain Mario Fajardo Playground
Cunningham Park
Forest Park
Francis Lewis Park
Hunter’s Point South Park
John Golden Park
Juniper Valley Park
Queensbridge Park
Queens County Farm Museum
Rockaway Beach
Roy Wilkins Park
Travers Park
Torsney/Lou Lodati Playground
Windmuller Park at Lawrence Virgilio Playground

Staten Island
Clove Lakes Park
Conference House Park
Midland Beach – Lot 8
Silver Lake Tennis House
Tappen Park
Westerleigh Park
Willowbrook Park
Wolfe’s Pond Park

The Department of Sanitation will also collect Christmas trees on regular curbside composting days. Be sure to remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, metal, plastic, and wires. You can find your compost collection day here.

Interested in volunteering at Mulchfest? Learn how to get involved here. More information on Mulchfest and a full list of drop-off and chipping sites can be found here.