Overview
- New York City’s Mulchfest runs Dec. 26–Jan. 11, with a Chipping Weekend on Jan. 10–11 where residents can watch processing and take home mulch; officials note 52,569 trees were recycled last year.
- In NYC, Sanitation will collect clean, unbagged trees on regular composting days after residents remove stands, lights and ornaments.
- Houston’s annual program operates Dec. 26–Jan. 23 at roughly 20 drop-off sites, accepting only undecorated natural trees and rejecting painted, artificial or flocked trees.
- San Diego’s recycling runs Dec. 26–Jan. 16 at 16 sites, with green-bin curbside collection for cut-to-fit trees, free mulch available at Miramar Greenery, and acceptance of flocked trees at city locations.
- San Antonio offers four free drop-off sites Jan. 3–14 for live, unbagged trees, with free mulch pickup promised in mid-January at the Bitters Brush Recycling Center.