Big Reuse’s curbside composting outreach team provides educational outreach and support for DSNY's mandatory Curbside Composting program - this means helping NYC residents and buildings learn how to participate in curbside composting, answering questions, and sharing resources.
Reach out to the Curbside Outreach team at compostoutreach@bigreuse.org!
Coming into the New Year, the biggest update around Curbside Composting is that fines are back. Starting in January, DSNY will begin enforcement through fines. The breakdown of fines can be found here. For anyone who is a hardcore home composter, this doesn’t mean that you’ll get a fine for not having a brown bin. You will get a fine if there is clear evidence of excessive organic matter in your landfill waste/grey bin.
Here’s some common misconceptions & tips about composting in NYC!
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"I don’t have a brown bin yet!"
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If you’d like to get one, the DSNY brown bins are currently sold at Home Depot locations within the city. Check with your local store for availability!
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You can also use any bin that is under 55 gallons with a secure lid, just make sure to use a bin sticker so DSNY knows it’s a compost bin when they pick it up. Stickers can be picked up from Big Reuse curbside outreach events and by calling 311.
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It’s not just the brown bin! Food Scrap Drop Offs (FSDOs) run by Big Reuse and community gardens serve various parts of the city. Additionally, some neighborhoods have the Orange bins on sidewalks which are accessible with the NYC Compost App (link to download for Android, or iOS)
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A note about FSDOs & community composting: generally speaking, they DO NOT accept meat, dairy, or over processed food! Stick to the produce aisle, grains, bread, napkins, and non-greasy cooked food.
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"My food scraps stink!"
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Freeze your food scraps! A big ask, I know. But if there’s space between your Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken and the bag of peas that has become an ice pack, freeze your scraps! Plastic bins, clamshells from salad mix, or even a bag can contain your scraps and keep the smell away.
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If the freezer isn’t an option: try to dry out your food scraps. The majority of foul smells from food scraps originates from bacteria, fungus, and a lack of oxygen in a compacted kitchen container. Drying containers with better airflow will make the environment less hospitable to the stinkier side of decomposition. Adding dry newspaper, paper towels (without cleaner or oil), or dry organic matter can help reduce the smell.
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Lastly, the one I succeed the least in, is regularly emptying your waste into your brown bin or orange bin when available.Additionally, when overpacked, anaerobic digestion occurs in your container which produces foul smelling methane. Avoid the buildup and bring it to curb!
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"If I put all my food scraps in one bin, I’m going to attract pests!"
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Not true! Previously, food sources for pests were put on the curb in plastic bags, which a rat can easily crawl into or chew through. By putting food scraps into a brown bin with a locking lid, you reduce the ease of access as well as the smell.
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"My landlord doesn’t want to get a brown bin."
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An unfortunately common tale! First things first, they will be fined as time goes on, so take some solace in knowing that it is costing them money and time.
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First, call 311! Reporting that your building isn’t providing receptacles for composting helps make sure that the city is aware and creates a papertrail.
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Second, you can request an outreach event from DSNY here! This is a great option because it allows teams like ours at Big Reuse to provide building assistance, free countertop food scrap containers, and encourage your neighbors to start composting as well.
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"This is nice, but I still have questions or would like to have compost assistance at an event or in my building."
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Reach out to the Curbside Outreach team at compostoutreach@bigreuse.org! We love to help schedule presentations about composting in NYC with schools, community spaces, street fairs, and residences (just to name a few)!