It started November 15, 2004. Now all residents of Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn must arrange a pick-up time when discarding any and all tree prunings, firewood, and other organic woody debris.
Sections of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens (including Middle Village & Maspeth) fall within a Federal and New York State quarantine zone for the Asian longhorned beetle. As a result, Parks & Recreation will chip all wood generated within the quarantine zone.
The New York City Department of Sanitation NO LONGER collects firewood and wood from trees growing on residential properties in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation will now provide free on-site wood chipping and disposal of this material.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Request an appointment online or call 3-1-1. Wood must be placed curbside between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. the night before your scheduled appointment.
Appointments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis within established pick-up areas.
What can I put out for chipping?
You can put out firewood or organic (i.e. green or untreated) woody debris from trees and shrubs, including living, dead, cut, or fallen branches, twigs, logs, stumps, roots, and anything an inch or over in diameter.
How do I bundle the debris?
All wood debris must be free of nails, cement, or any other non-wood materials. Debris must be bundled in bales no
larger than 3 by 4 feet. Bundles must be tied with twine or rope. Do not use nylon line, tape, or other binding material to bundle woody debris. No single piece of debris can be greater than 4 feet long or 10 inches wide.
What can’t I put out?
Treated or painted lumber, which includes wood furniture, wood pallets, and building lumber, as well as mulch, chips, and leaves will continue to be serviced by the Department of Sanitation.
In addition, any organic woody debris that is generated from commercial activity is not eligible for the program. Wood debris generated from hired tree contractors or fee-for service personnel is considered commercial waste, and it is therefore the responsibility of the contractor to arrange for appropriate private disposal. All contractors handling organic woody debris within the Asian longhorned beetle quarantine zone are required to be certified by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Identification stickers indicating compliance are to be attached to all contractor vehicles.
