As of June 2024, all GrowNYC Zero Waste programming has ended.  

Please note this does not include food scrap drop-offs at the Union Square Greenmarket or Tompkins Square Greenmarket (operated by the Lower East Side Ecology Center) or Domino Park Greenmarket (operated by Domino Park).

The NYC City Council allocated funding for community composting in the FY25 budget. This $6.2M restoration supports long-time Compost Project advocates with $500k going to GrowNYC, while expanding funding to more community composting and zero waste organizations. 

We’re deeply grateful for the council’s support. We are launching a planning process to re-envision old programming and develop new ways to reduce the environmental impacts of the millions of pounds of waste New Yorkers produce each year. This new, one year discretionary funding is 10% of our previous zero waste budget and will not allow us to recreate the programming we had before - however it remains critical to our program’s future. We are taking time to do this in a thoughtful and financially sustainable way for NYC residents. Please stay tuned via our website or social media (@grownyc) for future updates! 

While our Zero Waste work is taking a pause, we know the community continues to work towards the long-term sustainability of our city. The resources and updates below are subject to change--please check host information before you go. Remember, it's great to recycle and rot, but it's best to reduce and reuse to prevent waste!

Food Waste & Composting

• Use alternative drop-off at many community compost organizations including Big Reuse, Lower East Side Ecology Center, BK Rot, and Compost Power.
• Refer to the Department of Sanitation Food Scrap Drop-Off site map for Smart Bin locations and drop-off locations that are remaining open. 
• Head to DSNY's Curbside Composting webpage to check availability and requirements in your borough. Learn more about Curbside Composting through DSNY’s pre-recorded info sessions, or join a live info session here.
• Reduce food waste by learning about expiration dates, food preservation, using up leftovers, and other tips from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

Clothing & Textiles

• Greenmarket clothing collections run by Wearable Collections will continue at its usual locations. Please check the schedule on our website for up-to-date information on drop-off locations, collection times, and accepted materials. 
• ReFashionNYC is a convenient and free textile donation and recycling service available for NYC residential and commercial buildings, schools, and nonprofit institutions. 

Electronics

• Check out Lower East Side Ecology Center’s E-waste Events
• Check out the City’s Special Waste Drop-Off Sites

Reusable Items

• Interested in hosting your own swap? Use GrowNYC’s DIY Guide for reference! 
• Big Reuse accepts home goods, clothing, books, furniture and more. 
• Use DonateNYC to find where you can donate your gently used items near you! 
• Facebook Marketplace and/or Local “Buy Nothing” groups