New Yorkers will be required to separate compost from trash — or expect a fine: NYC City Council
New Yorkers will now have to separate their food and yard scraps from their regular trash, thanks to a package of bills passed by the City Council on Thursday. The move is an attempt by lawmakers to cut down on the amount of garbage being sent to landfills and meets Mayor Eric Adams’ goals to slash the amount of trash that needs to be hauled. The legislation, which takes the voluntary composting program announced by Adams earlier this year and makes it mandatory, passed with veto-proof majorities. Supporters of the bills say it will also make it easier for New Yorkers to incorporate environmental action into their daily routines.
The Sanitation Department has already made composting available in Queens as part of Adams’ initial pilot. Under the new legislation, the department will be required under city statute to expand the program to all boroughs, with Brooklyn added by October of this year, Staten Island and The Bronx by March 2024, and Manhattan by October 2024. Building and business owners who fail to use new organics bins more than four times in a six-month period will face fines, starting at $25 for the fifth offense and working up to $100 for the seventh offense.
The bills are part of a larger struggle to combat climate change, said Councilwoman Sandy Nurse (D-Brooklyn), who sponsored one of the measures. Nurse’s bill requires the Sanitation Department to provide new information about City Hall’s progress in cutting the amount of trash sent to landfills. Another bill, from Council Majority Leader Keith Powers (D-Manhattan), requires officials to set up at least two locations in each borough where New Yorkers can drop off electronics and other recyclable items not typically collected in regular trash pickup. The expansion of recycling will cost an estimated $2.6 million annually by the time it’s fully built out in 2025, according to the fiscal analysis accompanying the legislation.
FAQs:
Q: What do the new bills require New Yorkers to do?
A: The bills mandate that New Yorkers separate their food and yard scraps from their regular trash.
Q: Why was this legislation passed?
A: Lawmakers hope that the new legislation will cut down on the amount of garbage being sent to landfills and help New York meet its goals to slash the amount of trash that needs to be hauled.
Q: When will the Sanitation Department be required to expand the composting program to all boroughs?
A: Brooklyn will be added to the program by October of this year, Staten Island and The Bronx by March 2024, and Manhattan by October 2024.
Q: Will building and business owners who fail to use new organics bins face fines?
A: Yes, fines will start at $25 for the fifth offense and increase to $100 for the seventh offense.
Q: What other measures are included in the package of bills?
A: The bills also require officials to set up at least two locations in each borough where New Yorkers can drop off electronics and other recyclable items not typically collected in regular trash pickup.
New York City Council mandates compost segregation with possible fine for non-compliance
The New York City Council has approved a series of bills that will require residents to separate their food and yard scraps from the trash, in an effort to reduce the amount of garbage sent to landfills. The mandatory composting program is an extension of Mayor Eric Adams’ voluntary program launched earlier this year. The move was welcomed by supporters who said it would help the city meet its goal of reducing the amount of trash it hauls away. “This Zero Waste package will not only greatly expand accessibility to composting and recycling across our city, but will also make it easier for New Yorkers to incorporate environmental action into their routines,” said Council Majority Leader Keith Powers. The Sanitation Department will be required to expand the program to Brooklyn by October, Staten Island and The Bronx by March 2024, and Manhattan by October 2024. Fines will be levied against building and business owners who fail to use the organic bins four times in a six-month period, starting at $25 and rising to $100. The expansion of recycling is expected to cost around $2.6 million annually by 2025.