The Village Composting Schedule
I started composting 8 years ago after talking to friends whom have been composting for many years. The city's made composting much easier than ever, today. Curbside composting collection is expanding to ALL NYC residents by 2024. In the meantime, use below map to locate your nearest drop off site. Once you start composting, you will see how much trash you actually reduce from your garbage. It's truly easy to do if are already going to shop at the farmer's market.
Compost Drop-off Locations around the Village
This map is amazing as it shows you ALL the places you can drop off your food scraps. There's also an app you can download to open NYC Smart Compost Bins (currently available mostly in Upper Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island).
Union Square Greenmarket Compost Stand Northeast corner of the market along East 17th Street, close to Union Square East/Park Avenue.
- Hours: M/W/F/Sat, 8:00am-5:00pm, year-round
- Union Square is accessible by mass transit using the 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, or L trains as well as the M14A and M14D buses
Tompkins Square Green Market East 7th Street b/w Ave A and B, South side near center of park
- Hours: Sundays, 8:00am-5:00pm, year-round
- Kitchen scraps may be dropped off Greenmarket open hours.
East River Compost Yard
- This drop-off site can be accessed 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Commuter Compost 1st Ave/1st St First Avenue between Houston & First Street, west side of First Avenue
- Hours: Mondays 9am-2pm
Christopher Park – 7th Ave & West 4th St, West side of Christopher Park
- Hours: Wednesdays, 9am-2pm
Commuter Compost Hudson Square – 6th Ave & Spring St, East side of 6th Avenue just north of Spring Street, in front of the entrance to God’s Love We Deliver
- Hours: Wednesdays, 9am-2pm
Before visiting a food scrap drop-off site:
• confirm that they are open and accepting food scraps
• review open hours listed on the map
• check flyer on the map to see what items are accepted
Accepted at food scrap drop-off sites:
• Fruits, Vegetables and Eggshells
• Coffee, Tea and Nuts
• Dried Flowers and Houseplants
• Bread, Grains, Pasta
Not accepted at food scrap drop-off sites:
• Meat, Fish, and Dairy
• Pet Waste and Kitty Litter
• Pressure-treated Plywood, Lumber, or Sawdust
• Clean Paper, Glossy Paper, or Cardboard
• Metal, Glass or Plastic
• Medical Waste, Diapers, and Personal Hygiene Products
• BPI-certified compostable plastic products
Curbside Composting is expanding to ALL NYC residents
Brooklyn by October 2, 2023
Bronx and State Island by March 25, 2024
Curbside Composting service in all of Queens has paused for the winter and will resume on March 27, 2023
Manhattan by October 7, 2024
Brown Bins
If you do not have a DSNY-issued brown bin, you can request one when you sign up and DSNY will deliver it before your service begins.
Why Compost?
- Composting keeps our neighborhoods clean and healthy! Food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard waste make up a third of the trash New Yorkers throw away. NYC's brown bins have latching lids that make it harder for rodents and pests to get to your food waste. It’s much easier for them to rip open a bag at the curb.
- The finished compost made from your food and yard waste nourishes the city's soil for healthier parks and gardens.
- Composting makes the city more sustainable—we can reduce waste sent to landfills and create clean, renewable energy to heat or power homes.
What to Put in the Brown Food-Waste Bin
- 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
- Compostable utensils
- Coffee filters and tea bags
- Paper bags
- Paper trays and plant-based compostable trays
- Paper food boats (used Citywide on "Trayless Tuesdays")
If you prefer someone to pickup your food scrap, get in touch with Ground Cycle.