Citywide Composting in Every Building Starts October 6!

L’Shanah Tovah to those celebrating Rosh Hashanah! May this new year bring joy, peace, and prosperity to all. 

I’m excited to give you a major update on sanitation in New York City.

Since before I took office, reforming our city’s outdated sanitation practices has been among my top priorities. This includes implementing universal organic waste collection, or composting, across all five boroughs.

New York City sends approximately 24 million pounds of food waste to landfills every day. This is the main driver of rat infestation because vermin can easily access food in unsecured trash bags. Composting separates food scraps into rat-proof containers. Composting also reduces greenhouse gas emissions because decomposing food waste in landfills produces methane—a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide.

Last year, I was proud to co-sponsor New York City Council legislation that required the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to implement a mandatory citywide composting program for all buildings.

I’m excited to let you know that beginning this Sunday, October 6, curbside composting will be available to ALL Manhattan residents! No sign-up needed.