In an effort to reduce excess methane production, New York City is enacting a mandatory composting program. Despite lofty goals to help alleviate rising energy costs, the measure will fine buildings that refuse to participate.
What’s happening?
As reported by Inside Climate News, New York City has resumed enforcing its mandatory, citywide composting program. To ensure full participation, the city will be implementing fines for buildings that fail to separate organic waste from trash.
According to the New York City Department of Sanitation, all residential buildings are now required to separate food scraps, food-soiled containers, and yard waste from regular trash receptacles. Failure to comply will result in fines ranging from $25 for first offenses to $300 to third and subsequent offenses.
Fines for noncompliance first began back in April 2025. However, then-Mayor Eric Adams opted to halt enforcement of the majority of these fines after just a few weeks. Once Mayor Zohran Mamdani was sworn into office in January 2026, the city soon reenacted the financial penalties.
Why is a curbside composting program important?
The composting initiative aims to help reduce the amount of methane gas pollution in local landfills. Methane has been linked as one of the biggest contributors to rising global temperatures…