Introduction to Composting in NYC
Since October, New York City law has required residents to separate food waste and yard trimmings from the trash. But the Department of Sanitation is about to get more serious about that rule. Starting April 1, DSNY will begin issuing fines of up to $300 to property owners who don’t comply. Green compost bins at the north end of Union Square Plaza on Friday, January 6, 2023 Credit: Hiram Alejandro Durán/THE CITY
What Can I Compost?
Food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard waste and plant trimmings. This includes fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy products, fish, bones, candy, coffee grounds, tea bags, processed food (like cereal or Pop-Tarts) and food that’s moldy or rotten. Other items that can be placed in with the compost include wine corks, scrap wood, pet food, greasy pizza boxes and paper plates, Christmas trees and compostable dishware and cutlery. Compost bins in Union Square Park on Friday, April 22, 2022. Credit: Hiram Alejandro Durán/THE CITY
How Much Should I Stress About Stuff Like Staples and Stickers in My Compost?
Don’t worry too much about all that stuff. You do not have to take sticker labels off fruit or yank staples from tea bags before throwing them in the garbage. There are industrial machines that separate the plastic and other trash from the food scraps, yard trimmings and food-soiled paper.
What Can’t I Compost?
First, the basics: You should not compost items that should be trashed or recycled! If it’s metal, plastic, glass or clean paper — to the recycling bin. Other items that can’t be recycled or reused should be tossed in the trash. You also should not compost poop, body stuff or grease. Pet waste is not compostable in New York City, although you can flush unbagged dog poop down the toilet, according to the DSNY. Waster Transfer Community Relations Manager Aycan Kaptaner helps oversee a compost-transfer facility in East Williamsburg, March 20, 2025. Credit: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
Wait, Why Should I Bother Doing This?
Well, first of all, it’s the law. Breaking it could result in hundreds of dollars in fines. But perhaps more importantly: Diverting material from landfills is good for the environment. “Composting organic waste helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are released into the air from organic material rotting in landfills, and also reduces the toxic pollutants and leachate that run into the environment where the landfills are located around the country,” said Sam Bews, education manager for GrowNYC.
Does the Material Actually Go Somewhere Other Than the Landfill?
Yes! Food scraps and other material that goes into the brown bins gets diverted from landfills. There is a whole operation to make sure this happens. Sanitation worker Gavin Cleghorn picks up compost from a bin in Astoria, Feb. 15, 2023. Credit: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
So, No Landfill. Then What Happens to All That Stuff?
You can toss the food scraps straight into the bins or line the bin with a clear plastic bag, like what you’d put recycling in. No need to use a compostable bag, although you can. Just don’t use opaque white or black bags.
I’m a Renter. How Do I Get My Landlord to Put a Bin in the Building?
Good question from reader Joey D. Here’s the answer: Owners of buildings with at least four apartments must offer residents a storage area with labeled bins for composting. You can alert your landlord to the law, or you can call 311 to make a complaint.
When Does Compost Get Picked Up?
DSNY picks up the compost once a week, with recycling. That may change in the future, as compost increases and trash decreases.
How Will DSNY Enforce This Law?
Already, DSNY has issued more than 20,000 warnings to property owners across the city for mixing organic waste in with trash or for a property owner of a building with four or more apartments failing to provide bins. Investigators may note if a large apartment building doesn’t have any bins for compost, and they may open bags to search for food scraps mixed with trash.
Oops, I Threw a Salad in the Trash by Mistake! Will My Building Be Fined?
Bottom line, make a good faith effort to participate. That was the takeaway from Stephanie Cardello, vice president of compliance for property management company FirstService Residential after attending a DSNY composting seminar. “They’re not looking to come in and open the bins and go through the composting and make sure that you’ve composted perfectly,” Cardello said. “They wanted to see that there is an effort being made to compost.”
What About the Public Orange Bins for Composting? Will Those Still Be Around?
You may have seen orange bins on the sidewalk labeled with the word “compost.” There are over 400 of these “smart bins” scattered around the city. They open with the use of an app, which you can download here. And good news: those bins are here to stay!
How Can I Get Some of That Compost Created in the City?
You can stop by DSNY facilities in Staten Island and Greenpoint, Brooklyn to pick up compost. DSNY holds community giveaway events periodically in other places, too. Check the website for what’s upcoming. Food scraps were visible in a compost facility at a Staten Island waste transfer facility, Feb. 8, 2023. Credit: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
Can I Still Drop Off Food Scraps and Other Materials at Some Community Gardens and Greenmarkets?
Yes! You can check out this map to see drop-off sites. But note that what those places accept are more limited than what you can put out in a brown bin or orange bin: you can’t bring meat, dairy or bones.
How Do I Learn More or Inform My Tenants About Composting?
DSNY provides lots of materials, including informational posters, decals, tipsheets and more, to help communicate to building staff and tenants about what they should do. You can tune in to a live or recorded virtual info session about composting, or request DSNY staff come to your building or community to do outreach.
Conclusion
Composting is an important step towards reducing waste and helping the environment. By following the guidelines outlined above, New Yorkers can make a significant impact on the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Remember to compost food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard waste, and plant trimmings, and avoid composting items that should be trashed or recycled. Make a good faith effort to participate, and don’t be afraid to reach out to your landlord or DSNY for more information.
FAQs
Q: What can I compost?
A: Food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard waste, and plant trimmings.
Q: How often is compost picked up?
A: Once a week, with recycling.
Q: Can I drop off food scraps at community gardens and Greenmarkets?
A: Yes, but note that what those places accept is more limited than what you can put out in a brown bin or orange bin.
Q: How do I get my landlord to put a bin in the building?
A: Owners of buildings with at least four apartments must offer residents a storage area with labeled bins for composting. You can alert your landlord to the law, or you can call 311 to make a complaint.
Q: What happens if I throw a salad in the trash by mistake?
A: Make a good faith effort to participate, and don’t worry too much about mistakes.
