Compost


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.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and markets are abundant with all of the ingredients you need for a delicious meal. We will have some schedule changes to accommodate shopping schedules.