COLLECTIONS AT MOST FOOD SCRAP DROP-OFF SITES ARE SUSPENDED. CHECK STATUS BELOW FOR UPDATES.

(Updated 9/14/20)

Food Scrap Drop-off sites and Curbside Composting service were suspended throughout NYC in Spring of 2020 due to budget cuts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please see Notice on the Suspension of GrowNYC’s Recycling Programs for more information on GrowNYC’s zero waste programming.

Thanks to your support, GrowNYC and the NYC Compost Project are able to bring back a select number of food scrap drop-off sites in Fall 2020. See below for updates on GrowNYC locations, check the citywide map, and learn how else you can Keep Composting in NYC During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

To support our work, please donate here.

GrowNYC Collection Schedule

Most Food Scrap Drop-Off sites in NYC have been closed since March 2020 due to budget cuts related to COVID-19. Check the status (Open vs. Closed) of the GrowNYC Food Scrap Drop-off sites below for updates.

Please see our list of what to bring and adhere to the drop-off schedule at each location (do not bring food scraps to closed sites). Food scraps cannot be accepted outside of stated open hours. All locations are year-round unless otherwise noted.

In cases of severe weather, collections may close early or be cancelled. Please drop early and check our blog or follow us on social media for schedule updates.

Want schedule changes sent to your inbox? Sign up for Food Scrap Drop-Off Alerts for important updates in your borough.



COLLECTIONS AT MOST FOOD SCRAP DROP-OFF SITES ARE SUSPENDED. CHECK STATUS BELOW FOR UPDATES.

(Updated 9/14/20)

Partner Key:

DSNY = NYC Department of Sanitation

GrowNYC = GrowNYC + Community Compost Partners

Big Reuse = NYC Compost Project hosted by Big Reuse

Battery = The Battery Conservancy

BBG = NYC Compost Project hosted by Brooklyn Botanic Garden

BPCPC = Battery Park City Parks Conservancy

Earth Matter = NYC Compost Project hosted by Earth Matter

HRP = Hudson River Park Trust

LESEC = Lower East Side Ecology Center

QBG = NYC Compost Project hosted by Queens Botanical Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

Why compost?

Composting is one of the easiest things that everyone can do to improve the environment, with benefits including:

Sending Zero Waste to Landfills - over ⅓ of New York City’s residential waste stream is made up of organic waste that could be composted, including food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste.

Fighting Climate Change - making compost locally cuts down on carbon emissions from hauling trash long distances, and methane emissions generated by anaerobic decomposition of food waste in landfills.

Turning Waste into a Resource - compost is a valuable fertilizer that returns nutrients to soil and helps plants thrive. Food scraps dropped-off with GrowNYC become compost that is distributed for free to community gardens, urban farms, neighborhood parks, street tree beds, and members of the public.

Keeping it Local - food scraps collected by GrowNYC are composted locally and regionally in partnership with NYC Compost Project host sites, the NYC Department of Sanitation, and non-profit community partners.

What can I compost?

Accepted Materials: fruit & vegetable scraps, non-greasy food scraps (rice, pasta, bread, grains, cereal), coffee grounds & filters, tea bags, egg shells & nuts, cut flowers & houseplants, soiled brown paper products, potting soil.

fruit & vegetable scraps, non-greasy food scraps (rice, pasta, bread, grains, cereal), coffee grounds & filters, tea bags, egg shells & nuts, cut flowers & houseplants, soiled brown paper products, potting soil. Do Not Bring: meat, fish, bones, dairy, fat, oil, greasy food scraps, animal waste, charcoal, coconuts, insect-infested plants, plastics, twist ties, rubber bands, or receipts.

How should I store my food scraps?

Food scraps can be collected in reusable containers, paper bags, or plastic bags. To reduce odors at home and at the collection sites, store items in the freezer or refrigerator. A layer of shredded newspaper at the bottom of your storage container also helps.

Can businesses drop off materials to compost?

No. Commercial food scraps are not accepted at these sites. Businesses should contact a hauler who can handle commercially-generated organic waste.

How can I learn more about organics recycling in NYC?

Visit www.nyc.gov/organics to find workshops, guides for indoor and outdoor composting, a listing of community-based drop-off sites and to learn more about DSNY residential Organics Collection Program.

How has participation in the GrowNYC Compost Program changed over time?

The GrowNYC & DSNY Food Scrap Compost Program is a partnership between the City of New York, the NYC Department of Sanitation, GrowNYC, and community partners.