Bah! Humbug!
Mayor Bloomberg has a costly lump of coal waiting for lazy New Yorkers who refuse to take ornaments and lights off Christmas trees after they’re tossed on the sidewalk for recycling, The Post has learned.
The elves in the Sanitation Department — who collect 150,000 trees a year — plan to leave a $100 fine for anyone caught in the act, according to newly proposed city rules.
Officials said that too many people leave lights, garland, tinsel — even tree stands — attached to their firs that the city can’t turn them in to mulch used to enrich soil at city parks, ball fields and community gardens, city officials said.
“This makes mulching the Christmas trees much more difficult to do, increases the cost to mulch the trees, and ultimately adds to the department’s disposal costs,” said spokeswoman Kathy Dawkins.
When officials see the rule being broken, they’ll slap whoever they can with the violation — the homeowner, apartment complex owner, building manager or actual tree owner, Dawkins said.
And the proposed rule is written broadly enough to include even one scrap of tinsel.
“Any Christmas tree that is placed at the curbside . . . must be free of any inorganic materials including, but not limited to, lights, stand, ornaments, garland, tinsel, decorative accessories, and plastic bags,” the language reads.
The rule must still gain approval from the Environmental Control Board. A public hearing will be held on April 18.
But already several members are calling the Sanitation Department a bunch of Grinches.
“During the holiday season, we should act more like Santa Claus and less like Ebenezer Scrooge,” said Councilwoman Tish James (D-Brooklyn), who chairs the legislative body’s sanitation committee.
Councilman Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan) said sanitation officials raise a valid point, but new homeowners may not be aware of the rule, he said.
“I forget to take a few Christmas balls off the tree and you’re going to fine me $100? How much are we going to hit people with fines. One hundred dollars is too much,” Jackson said.