HOMEOWNERS are days away from facing up to $300 fines if they don’t sort through their trash correctly.
A new law will take effect in New York City on April 1, and 95% of property owners could reportedly face an instant violation.
Next month, property owners will have to start separating organic waste like food scraps and fallen leaves from regular garbage.
Homeowners in the city now have brown compost bins that they’re expected to use like recycling.
However, according to public data, less than 5% of tenants are complying with the new mandate, Gothamist reported.
The composting mandate was introduced last October, but fines won’t come until next month.
Participation has been dismal so far, as buildings across all five boroughs have yet to even get their bins according to tenants.
But tenants will not be responsible for this cost. Rather, landlords will be required to pay a $25 fine for violations found in smaller buildings during inspections.
Those fees can rise up to a whopping $100 for repeated violations.
Larger buildings will face fines starting at $100 that can climb to $300.
In neighborhoods like Canarsie, Brooklyn, the situation is no better.
On one recent composting collection day, only three out of 20 homes put out compost bins.
A community district in the South Bronx collected just two tons of compost last month, while 1,375 tons of garbage were collected.
Local resident John Hunt, 75, wasn’t even aware that tossing food scraps into his trash was breaking the law.
“That’s going to be a pain in the neck,” Hunt said.
“I’ll probably just do it the regular way until I get a ticket.”
“Maybe people don’t have enough time,” said Martial Marcoux, one of the only residents composting on his street.
“It’s just a personal thing for some.”
What are the compost rules in NYC?
Starting April 1, 2025, all residents must comply with composting rules or face fines.
What to Compost
You can compost the following:
- ALL leaf and yard waste (flowers, Christmas trees)
- ALL food scraps (meat, bones, shells, dairy)
- Prepared and cooked foods
- Greasy, uncoated paper plates and pizza boxes
- Compostable products (certified or labeled)
Do NOT Compost
- Trash (wrappers, pet waste, medical waste, diapers, foam, personal or hygiene products)
- Metal, glass, plastic, cartons, clean paper, or cardboard
How to Compost
- Use a labeled bin with a secure lid (55 gallons or less), or your DSNY brown bin.
- Line bins with clear plastic, paper, or compostable bags.
- For extra yard waste, use paper lawn bags or clear plastic bags.
- Bundle twigs/branches with twine next to bins and bags.
- Order a free composting bin decal for your own labeled bin at www.bins.nyc.
Mandatory Separation
- Leaf and yard waste must be separated from trash.
- Composting of food waste is now mandatory.
- Fines for non-compliance will begin on April 1, 2025.
Storage Area for Buildings
- Owners of buildings with 4+ units must provide a designated area for compost bins with clear labels.
Sanitation officials are urging New Yorkers to take the law seriously, reminding residents that they could face fines if they don’t comply.
“We have made participation easy,” said Acting Sanitation Commissioner Javier Lojan.
“Now it’s up to New Yorkers to follow the law or face the summons.”
As city inspectors begin to monitor the new program, the sanitation department is also ramping up its outreach efforts.
They noted that recycling took decades to reach a 40% participation rate in the city.
Despite months of outreach, including sending 20,000 warnings to property owners, the city is still struggling to get the message across.
New York’s sanitation department plans to send out more than a million flyers this week, hoping to raise awareness before enforcement begins.
The new composting mandate has seen widespread resistance, especially in large buildings where landlords haven’t provided proper bins.
For now, however, the city is bracing for a flood of fines and frustrated residents.
