NYC Compost Project Hosted by Big Reuse
*Community Composting funding has been restored! Volunteer with Us!*
City Council restored funding for NYC community composting programs! Big Reuse will be able to continue our work as part of the city's community-scaled composting network that collaborates with botanical gardens and composting nonprofits to provide New Yorkers with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to produce and use compost. Each partnering organization contributes its expertise to the network.
Make compost
Big Reuse operated 2 compost-producing sites, one in Queens and one in Brooklyn. The QUEENSBRIDGE SITE, under the 59th Street Bridge, was a state-of-the-art facility featuring an Aerated Static Pile system and large Gore Tex covers; the Parks department pushed out Big Reuse on June 30, 2024 to make a parking lot, refusing to renew their lease despite overwhelming public support for the site remaining. The GOWANUS SALT LOT SITE utilized a bay system that featured electric blowers that forced air in the compost piles. It was the largest community-based compost facility in Brooklyn. With community composting funding returning, stay tuned for more updates on next steps for our composting sites.
Collect Food Scraps
In partnership with 62 community-drop off sites, we collected and hauled food scraps to our composting sites for processing. As of October 2024, we're reopening 13 food scrap drop off sites! We'll continue to provide updates as available!
Check out this FSDO Map to find out which food scraps drop sites we're collecting from!
Distribute Compost
All the compost we produce goes back to NYC parks, community gardeners, schools, and more.
Educate the Community
Through our site tours of the Queensbridge and Gowanus compost sites, we educated the community. With funding returning, we look forward to being able to continue engaging and educating more New Yorkers!
Work with Volunteers
Steward tree pits, process food scraps and yard waste, bag finished compost, and help maintain our composting sites. As of October 2024, we're now hosting composting volunteer events! See upcoming opportunities here and fill out our survey If you're interested in learning more about opportunities. See volunteer opportunities with our street tree care team here.