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NEW YORK (PIX11)—A new law went into effect on Tuesday. New Yorkers must now compost or face fines.
"Curbside Composting service is now available to ALL NYC residents citywide," reads the New York City Department of Sanitation website.
But how do you compost?
To compost, collect leaves, yard waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper in a labeled bin.
You can place these items in your DSNY brown bin or a smaller, secured bin. Bins must be 55 gallons or smaller and lined with clear plastic, paper, or compostable bags to help keep them clean.
Extra leaves and yard waste can be placed in a paper lawn and leaf bag or a clear plastic bag. Twigs and branches can be bundled with twine and placed next to the bins and bags.
Items that will need to be separated from trash and composted:
- Meat, bones, shells, and dairy
- Greasy, uncoated paper plates and pizza boxes
- Leaves and grass clippings
- Products that are labeled compostable
Curbside composting service will be picked up once a week on your recycling day, according to the New York City Department of Sanitation.
More information:
The city of New York is hosting virtual information sessions so New Yorkers can learn more about composting.
The information sessions are on the following dates:
You can also watch a webinar on composting here.
More resources:
DSNY has lots of information on its website, such as a composting tip sheet with guidelines.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.
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