As of 1 April 2025, it is mandatory for residents of New York City to compost certain waste items. This is part of a program run by the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) called Curbside Composting.
The program aims to educate residents on making compost , and also redirects organic waste from landfills to repurpose into nutrient-rich soil for local landscaping, gardens, and other projects. Curbside Composting requires residents to separate food waste, yard waste, and other compostable items, to be collected for this purpose. In the second week of April alone, the city collected 3.6 million pounds of compost.
Originally, there were fines in place for non-compliance, but this was paused last week while the DSNY continues to educate residents about the importance of composting. Nevertheless, it remains mandatory to compost in NYC. Composting in an urban garden environment is challenging, but never fear. We’ve broken down the NYC composting rules and regulations you need to know, including what you can and can’t put in your compost bin.
What are the composting regulations in NYC?
NYC’s Curbside Composting requires yard waste, food waste, and food-soiled paper to be separated from other household trash…