By Scott Etkin
Will Curbside Composting hurt or help the city’s rat problem? If my building doesn’t comply, will it be fined?
These questions, and many more, are top of mind for some Upper West Siders since Curbside Composting – the collection of organic material, such as food scraps, as a separate waste stream – was expanded across the city this month.
To provide clarity about the program, the Upper West Side Coalition of block associations hosted a webinar earlier this week with representatives from the Department of Sanitation (DSNY).
Below is a summary of DSNY’s responses to common questions and concerns. (For a more general introduction to Curbside Composting – click HERE.)
I hear Curbside Composting is now mandatory. How will it be enforced?
It is mandatory and will be enforced in a manner similar to the enforcement for recycling by residential buildings. Though the program is now mandatory citywide, no fines will be issued right away. For leaf and yard waste, there is a three-month warning period before residential buildings are subject to fines. For food waste and food-soiled paper, the warning period for all boroughs runs through April 1, 2025.
Sanitation workers can initiate enforcement when they observe non-compliance by reporting it to their supervisor. Any fines issued would go to the property owner. Here’s the level of fines:
- For residential buildings with one to eight units: $25 (for a first offense); $50 (second offense); $100 (third and subsequent offenses).
- For residential buildings with nine or more units: $100 (first offense); $200 (second offense); $300 (third and subsequent offenses).
Curbside Composting is supposed to mitigate the rat problem. But won’t it attract more rats?
Curbside Composting helps to reduce rodent activity when the bins are used properly. “Containerization is the trick,” said Andrew Hoyles, senior program manager for organics outreach at DSNY. “These are rodent-resistant, hard-sided bins that have a latching lid. Compare that against a black trash bag that’s sitting on the curb for many hours of the night. A rodent that has sharp teeth and sharp claws can easily tear through a plastic film bag.”
The DSNY staffers who spoke at the coalition’s session also reiterated that Curbside Composting isn’t creating any new waste material, it’s just separating waste into a different container. “This is material that is already in trash, set out every single day across the city,” said Jonathan Viguers, assistant commissioner of outreach.
During a containerization pilot program that took place on ten blocks of Manhattan Community Board 9 (West 110th Street to West 155th Street), rat complaints in that neighborhood decreased by 55% compared to other parts of the community, where complaints have gone up. “We’re seeing that this is working. That’s why we’re continuing and adapting the program,” said Viguers.
Yard waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper goes in the compost bin. What does “food-soiled paper” mean?
Examples of food-soiled paper include napkins, paper towels, tea bags, paper plates, coffee filters, and pizza boxes. “You should just think of this as stuff that you use to hold food,” said Hoyles.
Compost bins have to have a “secure lid.” What does that mean?
A secure lid is hard-sided and can be affixed to the bin, often with a latch (not a lock). The point is that “rodents and pests can’t come inside of there [and] wind won’t blow the lid off,” said Hoyles.
Can I use a plastic bag to put compost in the compost bin?
Yes. DSNY’s facilities have “depackaging machinery” that separates food waste from bags. Clear plastic bags or takeout bags are ok – no black trash bags, though.
The bin itself should also be lined with a clear plastic, paper, or a biodegradable bag. That will help keep the bin clean and reduce odors. Another recommendation is to tie the bag closed in the bin before setting the bin out at the curb for collection.
My building manager, building staff, and/or neighbors don’t know about Curbside Composting. How can they learn more?
DSNY has sent mailers about Curbside Composting to all residential buildings in the city. It’s also doing canvassing, holding information sessions, and hosting targeted outreach events in certain neighborhoods.
DSNY offers free support in educating building staff, property owners, and supers. Virtual webinars specifically for building managers and staff are held on Thursdays at this link. A recorded webinar for residents can be viewed here.
Bin decals and signage can also be downloaded for free at the link.
What should I do if my building’s pick-up is missed?
If a pick-up for Curbside Composting is missed, report it by calling 3-1-1. Hoyles said the department has to review every 3-1-1 call, and therefore it’s important for how they measure their performance.
When DSNY collects compost, does it just get thrown out anyway?
No, compost that’s collected by DSNY is either brought to a composting facility on Staten Island or a digestion facility in Brooklyn.
“Although our trucks look the same, many are split-bodied, meaning they collect two kinds of materials. Some are dedicated solely to compost,” said Hoyles.
Does the start of curbside composting mean that the orange Smart Bins are going away?
No, there are no plans to remove the app-activated Smart Bins from street corners. Even if your building is participating in Curbside Composting, the Smart Bins can still “be beneficial if maybe one day of the week for your composting isn’t enough,” said Hoyles, or if you’re out in the city away from your building.
Is there any way for residents to get finished compost (soil) back?
DSNY isn’t currently doing givebacks but they expect to do them in the spring. Check nyc.gov/GetCompost for more information.
What other containerization plans are in the works?
Curbside Composting is a form of containerization (putting waste in bins for collection). The next big change in containerization will affect residential buildings with 1-9 units, which will be required to start using a bin 55 gallons or less with a secured lid for their trash beginning November 12, 2024.
By June 2026, property owners of buildings with 1-9 residential units must purchase an official NYC Bin to set out trash at the curb (available at this link or by calling 1-855-NYC-BINS). These NYC-designated bins are available at lower prices than similar bins at retail stores.
Eventually trash from larger buildings will be mandated to be containerized as well, but this isn’t happening in the near-term.
Commercial businesses are already required to set out their trash in bins. Once the containerization of trash from residential buildings with 1-9 units goes into effect, 70% of all of NYC’s trash will be containerized. This is “really, really, impressive when you think about the amount of trash that the city puts out each and every day,” said Viguers.
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here.
I live in a park block brownstone in the 90’s. completely stopped using the brown bin given to me by NYC, instead using the app-activated smart bins.
When we put out the brown bin, about once eery six weeks, it was NEVER collected… although our neighbors was.
And more importantly, usually every other week, passersby would use our bin to throw household garbage, ie, empty wrappers and cups… and worse they would drop their dog waste. Instead of walking an additional 30 feet to the corner. The Sanitation guys would then refuse the pickup, leaving us to deal with it. What a nightmare!! what bad neighbors!!
This is the issue with using unlocked bins for pickup. Passersby will use them as trash cans. This is happening now with the recycling and regular plastic trash bins. Not surprising, as the Sanitation department is servicing regular trash bins less frequently than in prior years, and there are fewer trash bins available (we need trash bins mid-block on long blocks like 72nd between Columbus/Amsterdam Ave). In 1996 there were bins mid-block. No longer.
Let’s say your app/orange bin is full, or you just don’t have one near you: Is it illegal to take your household composting to someone’s private compost bin on your street? This scenario happens to me all the time, the orange bins are great(!) but not convenient enough, meaning they’re very spread, fill up quickly (at least my closest one does) out and some areas have none. If I’m walking to the subway and I see someone’s private compost bin, I dump my compost in there. Is that legal?
Not illegal, and in fact if you communicate with your neighbors about it, they will be accommodating. It’s been quite easy on my block
My building’s basement smells like a garbage dump thanks to composting. Despite 2 full time staff all day 5 dads a week, and one on weekends. It’s not a big building but it is disgusting.
Recycling also needs to be put in bins, it’s impossible to walk down the side streets, not to mention disgusting.
Composting just means separating…why does your basement smell? Nothing new is being thrown away …just the same stuff as always?
Because compost is picked up once per week. In the past, garbage was taken 3 times per week. Same stuff, yes. Sitting around longer. This entire program was poorly planned and unrealistic.
Composting works, can’t wait! But once it’s clear that rats don’t eat the trash that remains can we please eliminate the rest of the mandate that’s turning our sidewalks into trash can lined back alleys?
All garbage should be put in bins like every other city in the US, instead of bags thrown on the street that smell, attract rats, and block sidewalks.
My 200+ unit rental building hasn’t started this and probably won’t until it’s forced to — if ever. No one in market-rate units in the building is going to speak up to ask where our containers are: we’re too afraid of having our rent jacked up.
And the idea that a $100 fine will make the landlord comply is a joke. How will this even be enforced? How will sanitation workers determine that a building is noncompliant and write a citation? They’ll stop their route, poke around in the bags, and write up the building?
I really do support the program, but good luck getting compliance from buildings like mine.
Total joke. Pretty much like every other thing that goes on with this city.
Well intended but doomed to fail. Prepare for a gross stink fest of food waste littering our streets and sidewalks.
Reminder that the “digestion facility” in Brooklyn gets most of the city’s “compost,” but it does not actually compost it. Instead, food scraps and soiled paper get mixed with raw sewage and then forcibly converted into methane (natural gas), which is supposed to be sold into the city’s gas grid (which is supposed to be in the process of being phased out to meet our climate goals). Except the facility is so unreliable that they haven’t been able to do that. So instead the methane gets burned to power the facility, and the excess is either burned or released.
Meanwhile, the city has defunded the actual GrowNYC composting program and evicted a decades-old non-profit compost pile.
The good news is that the digester facility is still better than just dumping stuff in a landfill, and it’s able to handle things that real composting can’t (meat, bones, grease, etc.).
Accurate, and a great example of how retrograde both Eric & Jessica Tisch (DSNY Commish, most likely a mayoral candidate in a few years)are as policymakers. DSNY is also NOT sufficiently cleaning the streets or collecting trash from wastebaskets.
Look at NYPD’s budget, and look at what Eric & Jessica have done for sanitation. It’s wild
@pgw Thank you for making this clear. Since Adams defunded the GrowNYC composting program, I walk my organic waste over to the West Side Community Garden on Sunday mornings or bike it down to collection bins that can be found at various points along the Hudson Greenway. Then at least I know it will be truly composted.
Issue:
Have seen a couple of sidewalk composting bins where people have left various trash – including glass bottles (ready to fall and break) – on top.
There is no apparent way to get this addressed
take your bins in early. That’s up to each building. We don’t have issue with this
I noticed this at the composting bin right by LaGuardia HS.
People left bottles and cans on top of the bin
We could lock the compost bins with a lock Sanitation could open.
I really don’t have counter space or fridge space to do this. This new “crunchy-mom New York” is madly annoying. Also, I don’t have plastic bags anymore since those have bee banned. Are we ow supposed to *buy* compostable bags to do this… sorry, it’s really not realistic in small apartments.
We bought a metal trash bin holder that attaches to the inside of a cabinet door and holds a small trash bin. It’s on the inside of the cabinet door under our sink, and there is still lots of room under the sink. The trash bin is lined with a plastic bag and the food waste goes in there. When full, tie up the bag and throw it in the compost container. Hope this helps.
Is dog poop compost worthy or not? Other animals in the wild relieve themselves and it goes back into the earth. Where do we place those plastic doggie bags?
In the trash. Feces is not compostable
We already have purchased closed bins. The word compost is supposed to be only organic materials.Now we have to have three bins in apartment? There is NO ROOM in buildings basements or alleys. Why cant they just pick up garbage everyday?? Clean streets like London does twice a day with water trucks.Plenty of” newcomers” thst need to be working!
Sanitation department is going to make a TON of money from all these bin purchases, no?
I seriously wonder if the impetus for this law is really for the good of NYC or is it just a smokescreen to squeeze more money out of taxpayers to pay the sanitation dept?
Then, on a personal level, aren’t we already parsing our garbage enough without requiring a 4th way we now have to separate things and… not incidentally… the compost initiative means that residents now have buy even more plastic bags to contain this rotting compost stuff in our apartments (because stores and restaurants are forbidden from giving customers plastic bags). WTH NYC??