New York City’s mandatory composting went into effect at the start of this month, and the city has already issued hundreds of tickets.
According to the New York City Department of Sanitation, curbside composting is now available city-wide, and all residents are expected to separate organic waste from trash destined for landfills. All compost waste can be placed in a department-provided brown bin or in a 55-gallon or smaller bin that is labeled and lined and has a secure lid. The bin can then be placed on the curb for pickup on the same day as recycling pickup.
For those who don’t properly compost their organic waste, the city has started fining property owners. Owners of buildings with up to eight units face fines of $25 (first offense), $50 (second offense) or $100 (each additional offense), while owners of buildings with more than nine units could receive fines of $100 (first offense), $200 (second offense) or $300 (each additional offense)…