Composting rule enforcement begins in NYC: Food scraps disposal

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- The clock is ticking, and we are just a few hours away from NYC residents being fined if they do not put their food scraps in a composting bin.

Bones, eggshells, and meat are just a few items that must be separated. Keep in mind that sanitation workers will check black trash bags to ensure buildings are in compliance.

“Compost is the separation of food, you have your papers, your regular produce, pretty much anything that can break down into soil goes in a compost,”  said Davon Cureton. He knows very well what composting is. But is he putting it into practice in his Bronx apartment?

“I should. We don’t have compost bins,” added Cureton.

And he is not the only one. Brandon Sloane, who lives in the Financial District, didn’t know about the composting rule enforcement going into effect.

“I am not because they don’t have a separate bin, but if they do, I will,” said Sloane.

For those who live in a four-unit or more building, like Andrew Hargest in the East Village, the owner or property manager is responsible for placing compost bins like these brown ones in a designated area.  

“You can use a paper bag, a compost bag, which is what I had, or a regular clear recycling bag,” said Hargest.

So, what’s the easiest way of putting aside your own food waste when living in a New York City apartment? It all starts in the kitchen.

“As long as you have the bin and the bag and a tight lid-fit, then you are good to go. Just put your food scraps in. To layer up with some browns, which are these fiber paper materials, you can use grocery bags, and really what you want to do is rip them off like to kind of cover the greens, which is the actual food. greens, browns, green, browns,” said Hargest.

Acting sanitation commissioner, Javier Lojan, told PIX11 News about one of the main goals behind this enforcement.

“We're trying to get the food waste out of the refuge stream, and that's an added benefit, reducing rodents,” said Lojan.

According to the Department of Sanitation, fines are as low as 25 dollars for single to eight-unit buildings, and 100 dollars for 9 unit and above residences.