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Compost drop-off sites return to NYC as curbside collection of organic waste stalls
By
Liam Quigley
Published Feb 25, 2025
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Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
By
Liam Quigley
Published Feb 25, 2025
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Two popular community composting locations are slated to reopen this weekend, nine months after funding cuts forced their closure alongside more than 50 other drop-off sites.
New Yorkers can once again head to McCarren Park in Brooklyn on Saturdays and the Forest Hills farmer’s market in Queens on Sundays to drop off their food scraps and other compostable waste in areas run by the nonprofit group Big Reuse.
The city sanitation department last year pushed for cuts to community composting programs, as officials said they were only used by the “truest of true believers.” The department instead focused on rolling out curbside compost collection to every borough. But despite the rollout, data shows New Yorkers’ compost rates still hover below 5% — prompting a push by some lawmakers to bring back the community drop-off locations.
“This is something that goes towards the health of New Yorkers and I think it's a great program,” said Councilmember Lynn Schulman of Queens. “Everyone’s really excited.”
The two drop-off sites are coming back due to $6.25 million in funding from the City Council’s discretionary budget. Their return comes a month before curbside composting becomes mandatory. On April 1, the sanitation department can start issuing fines to landlords for failing to separate organic waste from regular garbage.
Marc Laster, who co-chairs the Forest Hills Green Team that runs the restored Queens compost site in partnership with Big Reuse, said community drop-off locations should help educate New Yorkers about composting and get more people to participate in the city’s curbside program.
“ It's an opportunity to educate the community about the importance of participating in curbside composting, and then ultimately to remind them, as of April 1, if your building's not doing it, you're going to get fines,” Laster said.
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Liam Quigley
Liam Quigley is a reporter covering parks & sanitation for Gothamist and WNYC. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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