NYC's MulchFest 2012: Make Your Christmas Tree Into Mulch

by Chelsea Burcz · January 6, 2012

    Still have your Christmas tree, all dry and fragile, hanging out in your living room? This weekend you can get rid of the last of your Christmas cheer at MulchFest, an event that recycles old trees by chopping them up to make wood chips that eventually nourish trees and and plants citywide.

    [Photo: Christmas tree graveyard at Tompkins Square Park, taken by Dennis Crowley, Foursquare Founder.]

    Last year, nearly 17, 000 trees were recycled to help new plants.

    Bring your tree to a chipping location on January 7 and 8 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, they will chip your tree and even give you your own bag of mulch (if that's your thing).

    Or, if you're lazy, the site says:

    Or you can bring your tree to a drop-off site from January 2 through January 8. Leave your tree with us, and we’ll recycle it for you later! The NYC Department of Sanitation will also be conducting special curbside collections for mulching and recycling of Christmas trees from January 3 through January 14.

    Don't forget to remove your lights and ornaments!

    [Go HERE for more information on MulchFest and how you can help out!]

    [NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe getting MulchFest started.Yeah, work that wood chipper. Photo via NYC Digital]

    [Mayor Michael Bloomberg getting his Mulch on. Photo via]

    [Don't let this happen to your precious tree. Photo via]