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Your Park > Trees & Greenstreets > Wood Debris Removal

Wood Debris Removal

This service is NOT for Christmas tree disposal.

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Details

All residents of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and portions of Staten Island must now arrange a pick-up time when discarding any and all tree prunings, firewood, and other organic woody debris. This service is NOT for Christmas tree disposal.

Sections of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island 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, Brooklyn and portions of Staten Island. The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation will now provide free on-site wood chipping and disposal of this material.

Scheduling an appointment

Preparing for your pickup

  • Wood must be placed curbside between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. the night before your scheduled appointment.

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 ½ 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.
  • There is a maximum of 30 bundles permitted per appointment.
  • 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.

Bundle all trees and wood with twine

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.
  • This service is NOT for Christmas tree disposal.
  • 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. (For more information on contractor compliance, call NYS Agriculture & Markets at (631) 288-1751.)

Lumber, wood furniture, and pallets do not require special pick up

Think you have found an Asian longhorned beetle?
Call 1-877 STOP ALB (1-877-786-7252).

Related Information
Asian longhorned beetle