DSNY will collect all leaf and yard waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper as compost.

This includes:

• Meat
• Bones
• Dairy
• Prepared foods
• Greasy uncoated paper plates and pizza boxes

You can use the Department of Sanitation's website to find out how to properly dispose of specific items.

Learn how to get rid of specific items.

Disposal Rules

Food Waste

All food waste (food scraps and food-soiled paper) must be placed in any labeled bin (55 gallons or less) with a secure lid or in your DSNY brown bin. 

You can line your bin with a clear plastic, paper, or compostable bag to help keep it clean. Do not use black plastic bags. 

You can also use small plastic, paper or compostable bags inside the liner to drop in your daily food scraps. 

Tie the bag closed before putting the bin on the curb for collection.

Leaf and Yard Waste

Place leaf and yard waste in any labeled bin (55 gallons or less) with a secure lid or in your DSNY brown bin. You can also use paper lawn and leaf bags, or clear plastic bags. Do not use black plastic bags. 

Bundle twigs and branches with twine and place on curb next to bins or bags.

Mixing Food and Yard Waste

You can mix food waste with leaf and yard waste only if you are using a bin with a secure lid.

Storage Areas

Owners and property managers of buildings with 4 or more units must provide a designated storage area with clearly labeled compost bins.

Set-Out Times

Compost is collected every week on the same day as recycling. 

Set composting out the night before your collection day: 

• After 6 PM, if using a bin, or 
• After 8 PM, if putting bags of leaf and yard waste directly on the curb. You can mix food scraps with leaf and yard waste only if you are using a bin with a secure lid. 

To ensure collection, all waste must be set out by midnight before your collection day.

What Not to Compost 

Do not compost trash, such as:

• Diapers
• Personal hygiene products
• Animal waste
• Wrappers
• Non-paper packaging
• Foam products

Do not compost recyclable items (metal glass, plastic, cartons, clean paper, or cardboard). Visit the Recycling Rules page to learn more about what you can recycle.

Residential property owners are responsible for making sure all waste for their building is set out correctly for collection.

Fines may be issued for each violation, and the amount may increase with each additional violation issued within a 12-month period.

Learn more about collection laws for residents.

Setout

If you set your waste out incorrectly or at the wrong time, or on the wrong days, you may be fined:

• $50 for the first offense
• $100 for the second offense
• $200 for the third and subsequent offenses

Bins

If you use a bin that is broken or if waste spills out of your container, you may be fined:

• $50 for the first offense
• $100 for the second offense
• $200 for the third and subsequent offenses

All New York City properties with 1-9 residential units must use a bin (55 gallons or less) with a secure lid for trash.  Metal/Glass/Plastic/Cartons and Paper/Cardboard can be set out in clear bags. 

Failure to use a bin that is 55 gallons or less with a secure lid for trash set out will result in fines:

• $50 for the first offense
• $100 for the second offense
• $200 for the third and subsequent offenses

Separation

All NYC residents (in buildings of any size) must:

• Separate compost from trash and place in a DSNY brown bin or any labeled bin (55 gallons or less) with a secure lid.
  • As of April 1, 2025, property owners may receive a fine if compostable material is not separated from trash.
• Separate recycling from trash and set out recyclables correctly.

Failure to properly separate and set out compost and recycling will result in fines:

• Buildings with 1 to 8 units:
  • $25 for the first offense
  • $50 for the second offense
  • $100 for the third and subsequent offenses

•  Buildings with 9 or more units:
  • $100 for the first offense
  • $200 for the second offense
  • $300 for the third and subsequent offenses

Please note: While composting is mandatory in New York City, DSNY has extended the outreach and education period for buildings with fewer than 30 units, giving residents more time to learn how to properly sort their organic waste. Summonses will only be issued to buildings with 30 or more units that are also identified as repeat offenders. 

Summonses that were already issued are still valid. However, you can choose to fight the summons at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) by following the directions on the summons.

DSNY is no longer providing free brown compost bins for residents receiving composting services for the first time.

DSNY does not provide free replacement compost bins.

Please note that you can use any labeled bin (55 gallons or less) with a secure lid for compost disposal. You can line your bin with a clear plastic, paper, or compostable bag to help keep it clean. Tie the bag closed before putting the bin on the curb for collection.

To order a free composting bin decal, visit the Department of Sanitation Signs and Decals page.

Official NYC Bins for compost disposal are also available for purchase online. Visit bins.nyc to learn more and place an order.

Kitchen Compost Containers 

You can use any bag or container to collect food scraps, food-soiled paper, and plant waste within your home. You can store food scraps in the freezer to prevent odors.

Once the bag or container is full, empty the scraps from your home into your building's compost bin. 

Kitchen Container Giveaways

DSNY will host community events to educate the public about curbside composting and give away kitchen containers for food scraps. 

No events are scheduled at this time. Check back regularly for updates.

Submit Feedback

DSNY distributed free compost bins in 2024 for a limited time only.

You can submit feedback about DSNY compost bins, including if you signed up to get a free compost bin last year and did not receive it.

Submit feedback to the Department of Sanitation.

DSNY provides trash, recycling, and compost collection services for:

• All NYC public schools
• Some private/charter schools
• City agencies
• Nonprofits in tax-exempt buildings

All schools, New York City agencies, and nonprofit institutions must follow proper collection rules. 

Private and charter schools can arrange for food waste collection from a private carter if they are ineligible for DSNY Curbside Composting service.

Learn more about collection rules for schools, agencies, and nonprofits.

Separation of Compost from Trash

NYC Department of Education schools (K-12) on dedicated school routes must dispose of compost separately from trash.

Non-profits, private and religious schools, and pre-k’s on residential routes are not required to separate compost from trash.

Learn more about composting rules for schools.

If your collection day falls on a holiday, there may be changes to your collection schedule. 

Make sure to always check back near the date of the holiday to confirm the exact guidelines.

2025 Sanitation Holidays

New York City residents can receive free compost made in New York at Compost Giveback Events.

You must register online before attending an event. Only one ticket per person is allowed. If carpooling, each person must bring their ticket and present ID showing a distinct address.

Businesses are not eligible for free compost. Commercial vehicles will not be serviced at the events.

Event dates, locations, and registration instructions are available online. If no events are available, check back later.

Register to attend a Compost Giveback Event.