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 two 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
As of November 2024, Big Reuse is reopening 13 food scrap drop off sites! We'll continue to provide updates as available. Check out this Big Reuse FSDO Map to find out which locations we're collecting from. Big Reuse collects food scraps and currently hauls to partner composting sites to make sure the organic waste is composted.
All the compost we produce goes back to NYC parks, community gardens, schools, and more.
Curbside Collection
Though curbside organic waste collection should be available in every NYC residential building, public Food Scrap Drop Offs are still available. This DSNY map lists Orange Smart Bins which are collected and taken to the sewage bio-digester in Greenpoint. Other community drop offs on the DSNY map may accept materials to compost but inquire further in case details on the map may not be updated.
Locations
Spring Creek Learning Garden at Opportunity Hub
1430 Freeport Loop, Brooklyn, NY 11239
Accessible by Louisiana Ave.
Monday-Fridays 10am-4pm
North Brooklyn Compost Project
McGolrick Park
Sundays 10am-1pm
NurtureBK Compost
Ocean Ave. and Parkway Ave. (SE corner of Prospect Park)
Sundays 9-11am
1100 Bergen Street
1107 Bergen St. Brooklyn, NY 11216
Sundays 10am-4pm
EL Garden
120 Jefferson St. Brooklyn, NY 11206
During open garden hours
Moffat Street Community Garden
9 Moffat St. Brooklyn, NY 11207
Saturdays 10:30am-12pm
East New York Farms - UCC Youth Farm
620 Schenck Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11207
24/7
Prospect Farm
1194 Prospect Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11218
Wednesdays 5-6pm; Saturdays 11am-12pm
4th Avenue Presbyterian Church
6753 4th Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11220
24/7
Q Gardens
58 E 18th St. Brooklyn, NY 11226
Saturdays 10am-1pm; Sundays 2-4pm
Christ Church Community Compost
326 Clinton St. Brooklyn, NY 11231
8am-6pm all week (please close gate behind you!)
Roosevelt Island Farmers Market
543 Main St. New York, NY 10044
Saturdays 9am-2pm
King Manor Museum
150-03 Jamaica Ave. Queens, NY 11432
Tuesdays-Saturdays 11am-4pm
The Connected Chef
49-09 5th St. Queens, NY 11101
Fridays 8am-3pm; Saturdays 9am-3pm
Volunteer Opportunities
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 all upcoming volunteer events with our street tree care team here.
Education
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!