Fines for not composting in New York City start on Tuesday
NEW YORK (PIX11) – Everyone in New York City will have to start composting on Tuesday.
Curbside composting fines go into effect on April 1, according to the Department of Sanitation. Food scraps will need to be tossed into labeled composting bins and placed on the curb for collection the same day as recycling.
These are items that will need to be separated from trash and composted:
- Meat, bones, shells and dairy
- Greasy, uncoated paper plates and pizza boxes
- Leaves and grass clippings
- Products that are labeled compostable
A clearly labeled compost bin of less than 55 gallons needs to be used. Bins can be bought directly from the city for $45 each.
These items do not get composted:
- Diapers
- Foam
- Medical/pet waste
More than 30,000 warnings have been given out to residents since the curbside composting program began last fall, according to the DSNY.
Every building with four or more apartments needs to compost on the same day recyclables are put out, the DSNY said. Fines range from $25 to $400 per offense, depending on the number of apartments in a building.
Here’s a breakdown of the fines:
Not separating compost/recyclables from trash
- Buildings with 8 apartments or less
- First offense: $25
- Second offense: $50
- Third and subsequent offenses: $100
- Buildings with 9 apartments or more
- First offense: $100
- Second offense: $200
- Third and subsequent offenses: $300
Broken bin, trash spills from bin or failing to use 55-gallon or less bin with a secure lid
- First offense: $50
- Second offense: $100
- Third and subsequent offenses: $200
Taking out trash on the wrong day/time
- First offense: $50
- Second offense: $100
- Third and subsequent offenses: $200
To learn more about composting fines, check out 311's website.
Composting will keep hundreds of millions of trash out of landfills, officials said. The DSNY has given out free composting bins for kitchen scraps at events held in 2024 and 2025.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.