Scrap That: UES Getting New Compost Site Amid High Demand

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A new drop-off site for food scraps will open soon on the Upper East Side, aiming to fill a gap in composting service amid cutbacks at the city level, a local lawmaker announced Thursday.

The drop-off site will be hosted by Asphalt Green, the popular sports and fitness venue, opening on March 13 at the southeast corner of East 91st Street and York Avenue — near the slope that leads to Asphalt Green's soccer field.

It comes thanks to a partnership between the nonprofit GrowNYC and City Councilmember Julie Menin, who said she has received weekly complaints about a lack of composting options in the neighborhood since she took office in January.

"Tons of food scraps are filling our garbage bins every day for the last 2 years," one constituent wrote to Menin in a complaint shared by her office. "Our environment deserves better!"

Since the pandemic, the number of composting sites on the Upper East Side has dropped from three to just one: a Friday-only site on the corner of East 96th Street and Lexington Avenue.

Meanwhile, the popular curbside composting program that served the Upper East Side until its suspension in 2020 suffered a new setback last month, when Mayor Eric Adams announced he would halt its re-introduction after slashing $18 million from its budget. (It has only been reintroduced in six community districts citywide.)

Supporters say composting is a critical tool in the city's goal to reduce its carbon emissions and fight climate change. Organic waste makes up about one-third of the city's residential garbage, and composting ensures that it avoids ending up in a landfill, where waste emits harmful methane gas.

"We need more composting sites now more than ever," Menin said in a statement. "Having Asphalt Green step in to provide this location helps our community to keep our city cleaner."

The drop-off site will be open Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., consisting of large, 64-gallon bins. Acceptable items include fruits and vegetables, coffee grinds, paper, non-greasy food scraps, eggshells and nuts, flowers, and houseplants.

"We are excited to become a space where our community can come together, not only to play, but also to compost," David Ludwig, senior director of Asphalt Green Community Programs, said in a statement.