Citywide Curbside Compost Collection Kicks Off This Weekend

NEW YORK CITY – On Sunday, Oct. 6, curbside compost collection begins for residents of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, per the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), in an expansion of a successful program that’s been operating in Queens and Brooklyn for several years.

"Curbside composting fights rats and helps the planet. It's a win-win – especially when it's easier than ever," said Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch, in a statement. "Mayor Adams promised to bring this program to all five boroughs, and this October, that promise will be fulfilled."

What’s Compost?

Compost is recycling – but for food and other organic material like yard waste and biodegradable paper.

That does not include personal hygiene products, diapers, animal waste, wrappers, non-paper packaging, and foam products, all of which are not compostable.

Material that is compostable – from coffee grounds and pizza crust to chicken wings, apple cores, grass cuttings, soiled napkins, and more – decomposes and transforms into nutrient-rich soil or fertilizer, much like how recyclable materials like glass and cardboard are reconstituted and reused.

Why compost? It reduces – or “diverts” – organic material that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Roughly 44% of New York City’s waste is organic material, meaning that curbside compost collection could have a major impact on reducing the amount of waste that the city produces.

In fact, food is the "single most common material" sent to landfills according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and organic material – including food, yard waste, wood, and paperboard – makes up about 51% of municipal solid waste in landfills.

All of that material produces a significant amount of pollution, and municipal landfills are the third largest source of human-related methane emissions in the U.S., according to EPA data.

New Yorkers generate nearly 4 million tons of waste at home and another 4 million tons in offices and businesses every year, according to the Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice.

DSNY said it diverted approximately 211 million pounds of compostable material from landfills in 2023 – up from 165 million in 2022 – and this weekend’s citywide rollout should boost that number even higher.

Perhaps more tangibly, compost collection is also a key element of the city's anti-rat efforts, as reducing the amount of organic material in trash cuts down on food sources that nurture rodents and other pests.

What Does This Mean For You?

Compostable materials must be separated from other waste in the same way you separate recyclable materials from other household garbage. This organic materials then goes into a standard 55-gallon bin, which DSNY will collect at the curb on recycling day.

Bins may be lined with plastic or compostable bags to keep them clean, and free bins – one per building – are available here through Oct. 28. New Yorkers may also use their own bins, so long as they are 55 gallons or less, have a secure lid, and are labeled with a free sticker.

In residential buildings with more than 4 units, landlords must provide organic waste “pre-collection” bins in an accessible location, just like they currently provide recycling bins.

"All buildings in New York City are different, and so building managers have flexibility in how they handle trash, recycling, and compost," a DSNY spokesperson told Patch. "As all New Yorkers are currently required to separate their trash, paper recycling, and metal/glass/plastic recycling, the requirement to separate compost adds a bin to an existing setup. Some residents may want to keep their compostable material in their refrigerator or freezer until closer to collection day."

Composting is mandatory, and scofflaws could face summonses beginning in April 2025, with fines escalating per offense. A first-time individual offender will receive a $25 ticket, for example, while for building owners who manage properties with more than 9 units, the penalties are steeper, and start at $100.

Have questions? More information is available here.