Food Fight

New York City’s Composting Mandate: What You Should Expect

Starting October 2, 2023, Brooklyn residents joined New York City’s ambitious curbside composting program, designed to significantly reduce landfill waste and combat climate change. This expansion follows a successful pilot in Queens, which diverted 12.7 million pounds of compostable material in its first season alone. Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) announced that the program, once fully rolled out, will serve nearly 5 million residents across both boroughs​.

Program Details and Benefits:

  • What to Compost: The program accepts all leaf and yard scraps, food waste, and food-soiled paper, including meat, bones, dairy products, prepared food, and uncoated food-grade paper products. Residents are instructed to place these items in DSNY brown bins or any labeled bin with a secure lid. Yard waste can be mixed with food waste only when placed in a bin with a secure lid. Twigs and branches should be bundled with twine and placed next to the bins or bags​​.
  • Collection Schedule: Compost will be picked up weekly on the same day as recycling collection, ensuring a convenient and regular service for residents​​.
  • Free Bins: Nearly 50,000 free DSNY brown composting bins have already been requested by Brooklyn residents. The bins are available for order until October 13, 2023. Residents may also use any bin of 55 gallons or less, provided it is labeled and has a secure lid​​.
  • No Sign-Up Required: Unlike previous composting initiatives, residents do not need to sign up. They simply place their compostable waste in the designated bins for collection​​.

Environmental and Community Impact:

Mayor Adams emphasized the broader benefits of the program: “We’re making it easy to compost in New York City, and we’re cutting rats off from their all-you-can-eat black bag buffet. Brooklyn never looked so good.” The program aims to enhance urban sustainability by turning compostable materials into renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and cutting off a significant food source for rats​​.

Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi added, “For decades, our food waste has fueled global warming in landfills and filled rat bellies on our streets. No more. We’re saying no to greenhouse gases and rat buffets, and saying yes to renewable energy, biosolids, and compost”​.

Future Expansion:

The program is set to expand further:

  • Staten Island and the Bronx: March 25, 2024
  • Manhattan: October 7, 2024

This will make New York City home to the nation’s largest curbside composting initiative. Additionally, the city plans to introduce composting at all 1,700 New York City public schools by the end of the school year, supporting its goal of achieving zero waste by 2030​​.

Public Engagement and Education:

To prepare and educate residents, DSNY has conducted extensive outreach, including knocking on doors at 250,000 one- to nine-unit buildings in Brooklyn and sending informational mailers to all 2.4 million residents. This proactive approach ensures that residents are well-informed and equipped to participate in the program effectively. “Ensuring curbside composting is accessible to all New Yorkers is a tremendous step toward helping achieve our sustainability goals,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat​​.

This comprehensive curbside composting program not only addresses waste management but also contributes to a healthier urban environment, with cleaner streets and reduced rat populations. As New York City continues to roll out and expand this program, it sets a model for other cities aiming to improve sustainability and environmental justice. For more information and resources, residents can visit the NYC Department of Sanitation website.

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