¹ú²úÂ鶹

Following another record-breaking week of compost collection, the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) announced it is making a smaller-sized compost bin available for purchase. In the last two months, New York City residents have shown that creating a normal, easy-to-use, and consistent composting program works: New Yorkers broke another record, diverting more than 5.4 million pounds of compostable material from landfills last week alone. This marks at least the fourth time in the last eight weeks that the amount collected broke all-time records.

“These numbers show that New Yorkers want to compost, and they will do so when offered a simple, free, weekly service,” said Acting Sanitation Commissioner Javier Lojan. “As we divert more and more material away from landfill to beneficial use, we are making the program even more convenient with the option of a smaller bin for households that produce less material.”

DSNY picks up compost — which includes ALL leaf and yard waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper — on recycling day, part of an easy-to-use service. Material collected in DSNY’s curbside composting program is either turned into finished compost for parks and gardens, or into renewable energy to heat local homes and businesses reducing the need for fracked gas.

The 5.4 million pounds of material collected during the week of May 18 to 24 smashed previous records set in the last two months:

• During the second week of April, the Department collected nearly 3.6 million pounds of compost, more than three times what was collected at the same time last year and, at the time, the highest level of source-separated compostable material collected curbside in the City’s history.
• That record was broken by the third week, at 4.5 million pounds, a 400% increase over the same time the year before,
• That record was broken by the fourth week, at 5.24 million pounds, a 500% increase over the same time the year before.

These increasing numbers show that if you make it EASY for New Yorkers to do the right thing — to fight rats and help the environment — they’ll do it every time. This year, DSNY is slated to give away more than 5 million pounds of compost to residents at our giveback events. Demand has been so high, the Department just added a fourth site, on Hillside Avenue in Eastern Queens, in addition to sites in Astoria, Greenpoint and Fresh Kills, as well as community pop-up events throughout the five boroughs.

For more information, visit .