With summer right around the corner, here are some tips to reduce odor and manage your bin of food scraps and yard waste. Queens residents, remember to set out your bin each week on your recycling day to be collected through the curbside composting program. Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island residents not currently receiving service can look for nearby Smart Bins or food scrap drop off sites.
Tip 1: Secure your bin with a lid
Make sure to completely close your brown bin or place a secure lid on top of your own bin after disposing of your food scraps. Making sure that your bin has a secure lid helps reduce odor and is one of the most important things you can do to prevent a fruit fly infestation.
Tip 2: Freeze your food scraps
Space permitting, store food scraps temporarily in the freezer before adding them to your bin. Freezing your food scraps will help kill any fruit fly eggs, minimize odor, and reduce the amount of trips you make to your compost bin.
Tip 3: Add Newspaper and other “browns”
Food rots slower when there is no moisture. To reduce moisture in your bin, add browns such as shredded or crumbled newspaper, paper towels, brown paper bags, and leaves.. Adding newspaper and other browns will also help keep odor at bay and deter the scent that attracts fruit flies.
Tip 4: Line Your Bin
Line your bin with a clear plastic bag, paper bag, or BPI Certified compostable bag (avoid black trash bags). Lining your compost bin helps reduce odor and helps keep your bin clean.
Queens residents: Belong to a Queens-based organization with regular meetings and/or upcoming Queens events? Email compostoutreach@bigreuse.org to request an educational outreach associate to attend with giveaways and information about the program, or present to your group.
Buildings with 10+ units: Interested in more education or free countertop scrap bins for residents? Email compostoutreach@bigreuse.org to request an educational outreach event at your building, and we can work with you and/or your building management to set up.
All buildings: Find more information at nyc.gov/curbsidecomposting and request printed or downloadable materials here.