GROWNYC'S COMPOST PROGRAM HAS ENDED!
Food Scrap Collections at Tompkins Square Greenmarkets & Union Square Greenmarkets (operated by LESEC) 
as well as collections at Abyssinian Tot Lot & New Roots Community Farm will continue. 
Please see schedule changes below, if any.

For alternatives, please refer to the zero waste resources on our blog. 

Last update: 7/11/24

Established in 2011, the GrowNYC Compost Program made composting second-nature for all New Yorkers by operating residential Food Scrap Drop-off sites and partnering with community composting facilities to make compost locally. The Program ended in May 2024 as a result of City budget cuts.

For alternative ways to compost, please visit: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/collection/residents/curbside-composting.page

In cases of severe weather, collections may close early or be cancelled. Please follow us on social media for future program updates.

Last Updated: 05/21/2024

BOROUGH	LOCATION	DAY	COLLECTION SCHEDULES	OPERATED BY	PROCESSING SITE	ALT. DROP-OFFS
Bronx	BronxWorks Carolyn McLaughlin Community Center 1130 Grand Concourse	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Bronx	Fordham Plaza Food Scrap Drop-off E Fordham Rd & 3rd Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Bronx	Lincoln Hospital Greenmarket 149th St b/t Park and Morris Aves	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Bronx	Morrisania Farmstand McKinley Square at 169th St & Boston Rd	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Bronx	Mott Haven Food Scrap Drop-off 541 E 139th St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Bronx	New Roots Community Farm 670 Grand Concourse	New Drop-off Schedule: Mon-Fri : 9am-2pm Sat : 10am-3pm Sunday Closed		New Roots Community Farm	New Roots Community Farm	N/A
Bronx	Norwood Farmstand E Gun Hill Rd & Dekalb Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Bronx	Parkchester Food Scrap Drop-off Virginia Ave & Hugh Grant Circle	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	7th Ave Sunset Park Greenmarket 7th Ave & 44th St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Bay Ridge Greenmarket 3rd Ave & 95th Street	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Bed-Stuy Farmstand Decatur St and Lewis Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Bensonhurst Greenmarket 18th Ave & 81st St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket Court St & Montague St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Carroll Gardens Greenmarket Smith St and 1st Pl	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Cortelyou Greenmarket Cortelyou Rd & Rugby Rd	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Crown Heights Farmstand Nostrand Ave and Crown St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Crown Heights Franklin Ave Food Scrap Drop-off Eastern Parkway & Franklin Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Flatbush Junction Food Scrap Drop-off Hillel Pl & Flatbush Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Ft. Greene Greenmarket Washington Park & Willoughby Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket Flatbush Ave & Prospect Park W (Prospect Park entrance)	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Kensington Food Scrap Drop-off McDonald Ave & Albemarle Rd	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Leif Ericson Park Food Scrap Drop-off Ft. Hamilton Parkway b/t 66 & 67th Sts.	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	McCarren Park Greenmarket N 12th St and Driggs Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Newkirk Ave - Little Haiti Food Scrap Drop-off Newkirk Ave & Nostrand Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Brooklyn	Wilson Ave Food Scrap Drop-off Wilson Ave & Moffat St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	58th Street Library Food Scrap Drop-off E 58th St b/t Park Ave and Lexington Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	79th St Greenmarket 77th St between Columbus Ave & Central Park West	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	E 96th Street Food Scrap Drop-off East 96th St & Lexington Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	97th Street Greenmarket W 97th & Amsterdam	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	145th St Food Scrap Drop-off 145th St & Edgecombe Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	181st Street Food Scrap Drop-off 181st St & Fort Washington Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	Abingdon Square Greenmarket W12th St & 8th Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	Abyssinian Tot Lot Food Scrap Drop-Off 130 W 139th Street	24/7 Drop-off	24/7 Drop-off	Malcolm X Boulevard Beautification Group	Malcolm X Boulevard Beautification Group	N/A
Manhattan	Asphalt Green Food Scrap Drop-off East 91st St & York Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	Columbia University Greenmarket 116th St & Broadway	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Greenmarket E 47th St & 2nd Ave.	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	Inwood Greenmarket Seaman Ave & Isham St (N corner)	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	Madison Square Park Food Scrap Drop-off Madison Ave & E 25 Street	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	St. Mary's Harlem 521 West 126th St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	Tompkins Square Greenmarket E 7th St & Ave A	Sundays No change as of 5/21/24	8am-5pm	LESEC	LESEC	LESEC
Manhattan	Tribeca Greenmarket Greenwich St & Duane St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	Tucker Square Greenmarket 66th St & Columbus Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Manhattan	Union Square Greenmarket NE Section of Union Square Park	Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat No change as of 5/21/24	8am-5pm	LESEC	LESEC	LESEC
Queens	Commonpoint Queens in partnership with The Forest Hills Green Team 67-09 108th St, Forest Hills, NY 11375	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Queens	Corona Food Scrap Drop-off Roosevelt Ave & 103 St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Queens	Forest Hills Greenmarket 70th Ave & Austin St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Queens	Jackson Heights Greenmarket 79th St and Northern Blvd	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Queens	Kew Gardens Food Scrap Drop-off Metropolitan Ave & Audley St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Queens	Ridgewood Food Scrap Drop-off  Myrtle Ave & Cypress Ave	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Queens	Sunnyside Greenmarket Skillman Ave & 42nd St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options
Queens	Terraza 7 Food Scrap Drop-off 40-19 Gleane St	FOOD SCRAP COLLECTIONS PERMANENTLY CLOSED	N/A	N/A	N/A	Visit nyc.gov/compost for alternative options

Key:
LESEC = Lower East Side Ecology Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Why compost?
Composting is one of the easiest things that everyone can do to improve the environment, with benefits including:

• Sending Zero Waste to Landfills - over ⅓ of New York City’s residential waste stream is made up of organic waste that could be composted, including food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste.
• Fighting Climate Change - making compost locally cuts down on carbon emissions from hauling trash long distances, and methane emissions generated by anaerobic decomposition of food waste in landfills.
• Turning Waste into a Resource - compost is a valuable fertilizer that returns nutrients to soil and helps plants thrive. 

How should I store my food scraps?
Food scraps can be collected in reusable containers, paper bags, or plastic bags. To reduce odors at home and at the collection sites, store items in the freezer or refrigerator. A layer of shredded newspaper at the bottom of your storage container also helps.

How can I enroll in Curbside Composting?

Curbside Composting is currently available to select Community Boards in the Bronx and Manhattan, and ALL Brooklyn and Queens residents. Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island will receive service beginning in October 2024. Curbside Composting service is year-round, and every week on your recycling day. No enrollment is required, find out how to participate here: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/collection/residents/curbside-composting.page

How can I make compost at home?
We recommend reading the NYC Compost Project's Outdoor Composting Guide and Indoor Composting Guide for an introduction on the art and science of making compost. If you want to dig deeper, check out the Master Composter Manual.

How has participation in the GrowNYC Compost Program changed over time?

The GrowNYC Food Scrap Drop-off Program was a partnership between the City of New York, the NYC Department of Sanitation, GrowNYC, and community partners.