What the NYC compost program accepts

New York City's compost program takes food scraps, yard waste, and food-soiled paper — the three categories that make up most of what households throw away. You put these materials in brown bins (for curbside pickup) or bring them to a drop-off site. The city does not accept meat, fish, dairy, oils, or pet waste in the residential program, even though these break down eventually; the reason is that they attract rodents and create odor problems in the collection trucks and at the processing facility.

The exact rules depend on whether you have curbside pickup or use a drop-off location. Curbside service is available in most of Manhattan, parts of Brooklyn, and some neighborhoods in Queens and the Bronx. If your address is not on the curbside list, you can bring materials to a compost drop-off site instead. Both routes accept the same core materials, but drop-off sites sometimes have stricter rules about what they will take.

Key Takeaways

  • Food scraps — fruit and vegetable trimmings, coffee grounds, eggshells, grains, beans, nuts, and bread — are the main items NYC wants in compost bins.
  • Yard waste includes leaves, grass clippings, branches up to one inch thick, and plant trimmings, all of which can go in the brown bin year-round.
  • Food-soiled paper like pizza boxes, paper plates, and paper bags can be composted if they are not heavily coated or laminated.
  • Meat, fish, dairy, oils, fats, and pet waste are not accepted in the NYC residential compost program because they create odor and pest problems.
  • You can find your nearest drop-off site or check if your address has curbside pickup by entering your zip code on the NYC Department of Sanitation website.

Food scraps that belong in the brown bin

Fruit and vegetable scraps are the easiest items to compost: apple cores, banana peels, carrot tops, onion skins, lettuce leaves, broccoli stems, and any other produce trimmings. Coffee grounds and tea bags (remove the staple from tea bags first) are accepted. Eggshells, nutshells, and seeds from melons or squash all go in. Grains, beans, pasta, rice, and bread — whether cooked or uncooked — are compostable.

Nuts and nut butters can be composted, as can avocado pits and corn cobs. Cooked vegetables are fine; the rule against meat and dairy means you should not compost dishes that mix vegetables with meat sauce or cream, but plain cooked vegetables on their own are welcome. Stale crackers, cereal, and flour are all acceptable. The key principle is that anything that came from a plant and contains no animal products or oils can go in the bin.

Yard waste and plant material

Leaves and grass clippings are the most common yard waste. Branches and twigs up to one inch in diameter can be composted; anything thicker should go to a yard waste drop-off or be cut into smaller pieces. Plant trimmings from houseplants and garden plants are accepted. Hay and straw (if they have not been treated with pesticides) can be composted. Sawdust and wood chips from untreated wood are acceptable, though some drop-off sites ask you to limit the amount.

Yard waste is collected year-round in NYC, though the volume changes with the seasons. In fall, when leaves are heavy, the city sometimes suspends collection temporarily if trucks are backed up; check the Department of Sanitation website or call 311 to confirm pickup is running. Dead flowers and potted plants (remove the soil first and compost only the plant material) can go in the bin.

Food-soiled paper and cardboard

Pizza boxes are the classic example: if the box is greasy but not heavily saturated, it can be composted. Cardboard takeout containers, paper plates, paper napkins, and paper towels all belong in the brown bin. Paper bags (including grocery bags) are accepted. The rule is that the paper must be food-soiled but not coated with plastic or wax.

Do not compost paper that is laminated, glossy, or treated with a waterproof coating — these do not break down in the compost process. Avoid paper with heavy ink printing, though light printing is fine. Shredded paper is acceptable if it is not bleached white; brown kraft paper and newspaper shreds work well. If you are unsure whether a paper product is coated, the safest approach is to put it in recycling instead.

What not to put in the brown bin

Meat, poultry, and fish — whether raw or cooked — are not accepted. Dairy products including milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter cannot be composted in the residential program. Oils, fats, grease, and salad dressings should not go in the bin. Pet waste, including cat litter and dog feces, is prohibited. Diseased plants or plants treated with pesticides should not be composted in the city program.

Avoid putting in charcoal, coal, or ash from a fireplace or grill (small amounts of wood ash from a wood stove are sometimes acceptable at drop-off sites, but check first). Do not compost glossy or plastic-coated paper, plastic bags, or any plastic film. Rubber bands, twist ties, and other non-compostable materials should be removed before the bin is collected. Bones, shells from shellfish, and food waste from restaurants or commercial kitchens are not part of the residential program.

How to prepare materials before putting them in the bin

You do not need to chop or shred food scraps, though smaller pieces break down faster at the processing facility. Remove any packaging, plastic bags, or non-compostable materials. If you use compostable bags (bags labeled as certified compostable, usually made from plant starch), check the Department of Sanitation website first — some drop-off sites accept them and some do not. For curbside pickup, loose materials are preferred because bags can jam the equipment.

Drain excess liquid from food scraps if possible; very wet materials can cause odor problems in the truck. You do not need to rinse containers or remove every trace of food — the goal is to separate compostable materials from trash and recycling, not to clean them. If you are storing materials in a small container at home, keep a lid on it to reduce odor and fruit flies.

Finding your compost drop-off site or checking for curbside pickup

The NYC Department of Sanitation maintains a map of compost drop-off sites on its website. Enter your zip code or address to see which sites are nearest to you and what hours they operate. Most sites are open several days a week, often on weekends. Some are run by the city; others are run by community organizations or parks. A few sites have restrictions on the amount you can drop off at one time, so call ahead if you have a large volume.

To check if your address has curbside compost pickup, use the same Department of Sanitation tool or call 311. Curbside service is expanding but is not yet available citywide. If your building has curbside pickup, the city will provide a brown bin. If you do not have curbside service, you can still compost by using a drop-off site, or you can start a small home compost bin if you have outdoor space (the city offers free workshops on home composting).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I compost cooked food?

Yes, cooked vegetables, grains, beans, pasta, and bread are all compostable. Do not compost cooked meat, fish, or dairy, or dishes that are mixed with meat sauce, cream, or oil. Plain cooked vegetables on their own are fine.

What if I put something in the brown bin by mistake?

Small mistakes do not ruin the compost. The processing facility has screens and equipment to remove some non-compostable items. However, large amounts of plastic, metal, or glass can damage equipment and slow processing, so try to keep non-compostable materials out.

Do I need to use compostable bags in my brown bin?

For curbside pickup, loose materials are preferred because bags can jam the collection truck. Check with your drop-off site about their policy on compostable bags — some accept them and some ask you to empty the bag before dropping off the contents.

Can I compost houseplant soil?

Compost only the plant material itself, not the soil. Remove the plant from its pot, shake off the soil, and put the plant material in the brown bin. The soil can go in the trash or be reused for other plants.

What should I do with branches that are thicker than one inch?

Branches thicker than one inch should be cut into smaller pieces or brought to a yard waste drop-off site that accepts larger branches. Some sites have separate collection for wood and branches; call 311 to find a location near you.