NEW YORK (PIX11) – Have you started feeling the pressure of taking down your Christmas tree now that Dec. 25 has come and gone?
New Yorkers used to have to wait for specific days set by the Department of Sanitation before curbing their trees for garbage collection. Whether you take it down on Christmas, or prefer to wait, you can now put your tree on the sidewalk on your curbside compost day, according to the DSNY.
All decorations, ornaments and stands must be taken off the tree before it is curbed. It cannot be wrapped in plastic bags, the DSNY said.
Trees are similar to other composting materials collected by garbage trucks, like food scraps, food-soiled paper products and yard waste, according to sanitation officials.
If you're looking to get rid of an artificial tree, make sure to break down the metal base and trunk and place them with other metal recycling, the DSNY said.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.
