Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty announced today that the Department collected 160,896 discarded Christmas trees at curbside across the city from Thursday, January 3rd through Wednesday, January 16th.  The trees were turned into mulch that will be spread upon parks, community gardens and open spaces citywide.  Last year, the Department's annual post-holiday recycling initiative collected 166,638 trees.

"Once again, Sanitation and the Parks and Recreation Department joined forces to help our environment by recycling discarded Christmas trees.  The benefit of chipping Christmas trees goes well beyond the holiday.  By composting discarded trees, the city can distribute the groundcover among parks, as well as grass and woodsy public areas across the city.  Enriched soil and healthy plant life go hand in hand to keep City parks and public spaces looking their best," said Commissioner Doherty.

The Department's final tally of Christmas trees collected, by borough:
· Manhattan - 49,006
· Bronx - 16,059
· Brooklyn - 39,099
· Queens - 43,392
· Staten Island - 13,340

Parks and Recreation's 12th annual Mulchfest recycled 13,137 trees on Saturday, January 5th and Sunday, January 6th, an increase from last year's Mulchfest that took in 11,526 trees.