Jan. 7, 2016 By Jackie Strawbridge
Long Island City residents can get rid of their old Christmas trees by putting them through the wood chipper at Hunters Point South Park this weekend.
The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy has partnered with the Parks Department to participate in MulchFest, an annual event for recycling Christmas trees into mulch. The event will take place Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hunters Point South Park near Center Boulevard and Borden Avenue.
Trees brought to MulchFest will be put through a wood chipper and recycled into mulch, which will be used to nourish green space citywide. Participants can also take back a bag of mulch for their own use.
Residents can also drop off their trees to be recycled at Center and Borden starting today, according to HPPC president Rob Basch.
More than 30,000 trees were recycled in citywide MulchFests last year, according to the Parks Department.
This year marks the first MulchFest that HPPC is participating in, Basch said.
“We felt with all the residents that have moved in, it was important to have a mulching area that was closer and more convenient,” he said. “So we want to thank NYC Parks for bringing the chipper to us.”
LIC Landing will provide refreshments during MulchFest.
Other Queens MulchFest locations include Astoria Park at 19th Street and Hoyt Avenue and Travers Park at 78th Street and 34th Avenue.