Consider Compost – Where to Compost in NYC

By Lily Kunkel

New York City has an immense network of compost drop-off sites that make it easy for you collect your food scraps whether you’re living on or off campus.

Why compost?

Composting is the natural recycling of organic material into a nutrient rich fertilizer that is great for plants and soils. Did you know that over ⅓ of NYC’s residential waste stream is made up of material that could’ve been composted? By choosing to compost, you can help reduce landfill waste, which emits potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and harm human health. You also help contribute to your community, because compost generated from donations is processed locally and distributed for free to community gardens, neighborhood parks, street tree beds, and more! We made a map of all the NYU residence halls and some compost drop-off sites that are near campus or areas where NYU community members might live or work:


 

Refer to the full list from the NY Department of Sanitation for hours and even more sites: DSNY Drop-Off Compost.

NOTE: If you live in a building with a dining hall, you can re-enter the dining hall to place to-go, compostable containers and cutlery in the compost bins by the waste receptacles. You do not need to use an additional meal swipe to throw your compostable waste in these bins. 

 

Where is the closest place to compost? If you live or work…

SOUTH OF WASHINGTON SQAURE PARK:

NEAR LAFAYETTE HALL:  
Tribeca Greenmarket 

    • Look for a GrowNYC stall
    • Saturdays from 8:00am-1:00pm

NEAR BROOME STREET: 6th Ave & Spring St at the NE Corner 

      • A LES Ecology Center Drop-Off location (look out for labeled bins on the sidewalk)
      • Wednesdays 9:00am-2:00pm

NEAR SECOND STREET: First Ave, between Houston and First Street on the west side 

    • A LES Ecology Center Drop-Off location (look out for labeled bins on the sidewalk)
    • Mondays 9:00am-2:00pm

NEAR SEVENTH STREET OR ALUMNI HALL: Tompkins Square Greenmarket

    • Look for a LES Ecology Center or GrowNYC Stall
    • Sundays 9:00am-5:00pm

AROUND WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK:

NEAR GODDARD HALL, LIPTON HALL, OR WEINSTEIN HALL: Christopher Park

    • West 4th Street b/w Christopher St and Grove St., west side of the park
    • A LES Ecology Center Drop-Off location (look out for labeled bins)
    • Wednesdays 9:00am-2:00pm

AROUND UNION SQUARE:

NEAR THIRD NORTH, PALLADIUM HALL, UNIVERSITY HALL, FOUNDERS HALL, CARLYLE COURT, BRITTANY HALL, CORAL TOWER, SENIOR HOUSE, or GRAMERCY GREEN:
Union Square Greenmarket

    • Look for a LES Ecology Center or GrowNYC Stall
    • Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 8:00am-5:00pm

AROUND NYU BROOKLYN:

NEAR CLARK STREET OR OTHMER HALL: Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket

    • Look for a GrowNYC Stall
    • Saturdays 8:00am-12:00pm 

WHAT TO BRING:

  • Accepted Materials:
    • Fruit and vegetable scraps
    • Non-greasy food scraps (rice, pasta, bread, grains, cereal)
    • Coffee grounds and filters, tea bags
    • Egg shells
    • Nuts
    • Cut flowers, houseplants, and potting soil
    • Soiled brown paper products
  • Do Not Bring:
    • Meat, fish and bones
    • Dairy
    • Fat, oil, or greasy food scraps
    • Animal waste
    • Charcoal
    • Coconuts
    • Insect-infested plants
    • Plastics, twist ties, rubber bands, or receipts

BE A CONSIDERATE COMPOSTER:

  • Communicate with your roommates what can be composted and how compost is going to work (i.e. where it will be kept, who will take it out) in your suite or apartment. 
  • Plan a regular day and time with friends or roommates to go drop off the compost together.
  • Double check whether or not a site is open before heading out!
  • Keep your compost bin in the freezer to avoid odors and potential pests.

Further Resources: