In honor of Earth Day, let’s talk compost in NYC!

Connections & celebrations
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This Earth Day, New York City is stepping up its commitment to the planet by implementing a powerful new policy: composting is now mandatory! That’s right—NYC now requires all residents to separate their food scraps and yard waste so they can be turned into compost, a natural fertilizer that enriches our soil and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

What is compost?
It’s decomposed organic matter—like food scraps and garden clippings—that turns into nutrient-rich soil instead of ending up in landfills.

What CAN you compost?

  • Fruit and vegetable peels
  • Cooked or raw food scraps (no liquids)
  • Meat, bones, seafood
  • Bread, rice, pasta
  • Eggshells
  • Used napkins, coffee grounds, tea bags (no staples)
  • Leaves, twigs, grass, flowers

What CAN’T you compost?

  • Plastic of any kind (even “biodegradable” ones)
  • Coated takeout containers
  • Diapers, wipes, cleaning products
  • Waxed paper, clothing, textiles

How do you do it?

  1. Collect scraps in a countertop bin with a lid.
  2. Use BPI-certified compostable bags.
  3. Drain liquids before adding.
  4. Drop the bag into your brown bin provided by NYC.

Small actions, big impact.
This Earth Day, start composting and be part of the solution—right from your home.
#EarthDay #CompostNYC #LocalGuyConnect #ZeroWasteNYC

10 Likes
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Hi @Nubiamarquez
It’s so inspiring to see New York City taking bold action for the environment!
Mandatory composting is a huge step toward reducing waste and creating a more sustainable future. I hope more cities will follow this great example :globe_showing_americas::seedling:

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Wow! That is pretty awesome to make composting compulsory. It is not compulsory here in Malaysia or in the UK although the laws are slowly shifting in the UK to support that :crossed_fingers:t4:

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Nothing mandatory here, but I’ve maintained a home compost heap for many years. Unfortunately, as I’ve grown older, it has transformed from an active heap where I added food scraps to garden trimmings and aerated regularly, to a passive heap where I just throw garden waste when I work outdoors.