NYC Compost Rules Enforcement: What Buildings Need to Know

New Compost Enforcement in NYC

• ⚠️ Starting today, New York City buildings that fail to separate compostable materials from trash will face fines.
• 🔍 The Department of Sanitation will be digging through trash to ensure compliance with the new rules.

What Must Be Composted

• 🍎 Items to be separated include all leaf and yard waste, food scraps, prepared and cooked foods, pizza boxes, and products labeled compostable.
• ♻️ This applies to buildings with 1 to eight units, facing a $25 fine for the first offense, and buildings with more than nine units, facing a starting fine of $100.

Responsibility and Burden

• 💰 Property owners, not tenants, are responsible for paying the penalties.
• 🛠️ Some argue the guidelines unfairly burden building superintendents with the daily duty of sorting organic materials.

Environmental Benefits of Composting

• 🌎 The Department of Sanitation argues composting will help the city fight against rats and benefit the environment.
• 🌱 Collected materials will be used to make natural fertilizer and help create renewable energy.
• 🚚 Sanitation workers will collect compost on the same day as recycling pickup.