NYC Compost Project

The NYC Compost Project was founded in 1993 by the NYC Department of Sanitation’s Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse, and Recycling (now the Bureau of Recycling and Sustainability) to provide compost outreach and education to NYC residents, institutions, and businesses.

Our original audience was primarily gardeners who had a need and appreciation for composting. As public interest in composting grew, the NYC Compost Project expanded its outreach to connect with New Yorkers of all ages interested in home and community composting.

After more than 20 years of composting outreach and education, the NYC Compost Project is working to increase the number of composting opportunities available to New Yorkers and continues to shape the landscape of home and community composting in New York City.

We host information tables, give public presentations, and teach workshops in the Bronx. Please check our Events Page for upcoming workshops. There are also free composting and recycling literature and decals available for pickup in our office.

The Master Composter Certificate Course is an advanced compost education and outreach program. The course is designed to build a citywide network of educators, advocates, and community composters to support NYC Department of Sanitation composting initiatives, and is open to NYC residents who are at least 18 years of age. Visit the Master Composter Certificate Program web page for more information including requirements, course dates, and other resources.

The NYC Compost Project offers assistance and consultation in creating action plans, organizing volunteer workdays, troubleshooting, and more.

We work with 55 actively-managed Community Compost Sites in the Bronx, and we consult with dozens of additional community gardens and schools to create and improve compost systems at their sites. To become a certified Community Compost Site, a group must demonstrate leadership, team-building, and troubleshooting skills among its own members and with others to make and harvest compost at its site. Of these sites, 16 have attained Demonstration Site status, exhibiting exemplary compost operations and community engagement. Demo Sites have priority access to NYC Compost Project resources and all sites are encouraged to strive toward this level of achievement.

We offer technical assistance in creating compost action plans, organizing volunteer workdays, troubleshooting physical and social issues, and more. Contact us if your group would like to collaborate with us.

The NYC Compost Project manages several of the Department of Sanitation’s citywide Food Scrap Drop-Off sites where residents can bring their food waste to be composted locally.

The NYC Compost Project manages several of the Department of Sanitation’s citywide Food Scrap Drop-Off sites where residents can bring their food waste to be composted locally. At our Bronx drop-off locations, all scraps are processed on-site with the help of Master Composters and other volunteers. The resulting finished compost is used directly in the garden on each site, benefitting the soil, plants, and vegetables grown there.

Send us an e-mail if you’d like to be updated on happenings at our Bronx drop-off sites

Join us during a compost workday to get your hands dirty in the garden and meet new people! Events are open to the public and no experience is necessary.

Join us at a compost workday! Get your hands dirty and meet someone new at one of the beautiful gardens in the Bronx. See our monthly schedule of events for upcoming volunteer opportunities. These events are open to the public and no experience is necessary. Contact us in advance if you would like to bring a group.

We are also happy to collaborate with student clubs, service learning programs, and other volunteer groups to arrange group-specific workdays at our sites.

NYCCP offers composting equipment to city residents, school employees, businesses, and institutions.

We encourage home composting as well as community-scale composting, offering reduced-cost equipment in addition to free advice and literature.

In the Bronx we sell low-cost compost equipment to residents, school employees, businesses, and institutions of NYC (identification required). Bins and cranks are sold at The New York Botanical Garden by appointment only. Please e-mail us for details or to make an appointment.

For more information on the discounted composting equipment available for sale at other Compost Project host sites, visit Low-Cost Composting Equipment.