The New York City Department of Sanitation has added Christmas trees to its list of items to be collected alongside food scraps and yard waste on compost and recycling days.
In a press statement on Tuesday, the department said including Christmas trees as curbside compost collection was a first.
"This is the first time trees can be set out as curbside compost collection, and is just one of many ways New York City's composting program is the easiest ever," it said.
The department will collect the Christmas trees in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island boroughs from Friday, January 5, until Saturday, January 13, in the new year.
Collection in Brooklyn and Queens will occur on regular days already scheduled for food scraps, yard waste collection, and recycling days.
It said the Christmas trees will be chipped and recycled into compost to green the city's parks, institutions, and community gardens.
The department said it would separate the Christmas tree collection from the trash.
"As a reminder, these Christmas trees are collected separately from trash and recycling, and patience is appreciated as pick-up may not occur immediately; trees are collected with other trees, and the Department scouts trees at the curb to make efficient routes," it said.
The department urged residents not to wrap the trees in plastic bags and to remove the stands, tinsel, lights and ornaments.
Also, they are calling on residents who wish to discard their artificial trees to separate the metals and place them in designated metal recycling bags.
