Christmas is over, and it’s time to say goodbye to your Christmas tree. In the United States, about 30 million real trees are sold each year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. Soon, many of those trees will end up on sidewalks, waiting to be collected.

In New York City, tree collection is now part of the curbside composting program. Before this change, the Sanitation Department spent about two weeks in January picking up trees. In 2023, over 1,000 tons of trees were collected across the five boroughs. The Sanitation Department collected over 1,000 tons of trees across the five boroughs in 2023.

Manhattan led the way, producing 340 tons of tree waste, followed by Queens with 306 tons, Brooklyn with 246 tons, the Bronx with 106 tons, and Staten Island with 72 tons. Staten Island came out on top when looking at waste per housing unit, with about 0.78 pounds of tree waste per home. Manhattan was next with 0.73 pounds per home, followed by Queens (0.67 pounds), Brooklyn (0.44 pounds), and the Bronx (0.38 pounds).

With curbside composting now citywide, New Yorkers can dispose of their trees with their organic waste. Most trees will end up at compost facilities in the Bronx or Staten Island, where they’ll become mulch for parks and community spaces. For those who prefer, trees can also be dropped off at designated parks for mulching.

If you’re wondering when to get rid of your tree, now’s a great time. Consider this your reminder to start the cleanup.