NEW YORK (PIX11) – The grace period is over, and anyone found not composting in New York City will be forced to pay a fine , but what exactly are we expected to compost?
Many food scraps and yard waste will need to be separated from your trash and placed in a brown composting bin, according to the Department of Sanitation.
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Below is a full list of items that should be composted.
Items to compost:
- Vegetables and fruit
- Prepared foods
- Baked goods
- Cereal, flour, grains, pasta, and rice
- Eggs and eggshells
- Dairy products
- Nuts, meat, fish, and bones
- Paper towels and napkins
- Paper plates
- Coffee filters and tea bags
- Paper bags
- Paper food boats
- Paper trays and plant-based compostable trays
- Compostable utensils and greasy uncoated paper plates
- Pizza boxes
- Yard waste such as leaves
Items not to compost:
- Diapers
- Personal hygiene products
- Animal waste
- Wrappers
- Non-paper packaging
- Foam products
- Paper and cardboard
- Glass, metal, rigid plastic, and beverage cartons
Fines for not composting can range from $25 to $400 per offense . Residents can learn more about the initiative on 311’s website .
Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here . …