ENYF Compost Program
Composting in East New York. For the East New York Community.
Each day, New York City produces over 44 million pounds of trash, spending over $400 million a year to export it out of state. 33% of trash in the landfills could actually be composted. Composting is nature's way of recycling organic material through decomposition. It rebuilds soil, promotes natural plant growth, and produces more flavorful, pest and disease resistant, and nutrient-dense foods!
The East New York Farms Compost Program works with the community to divert food scraps from landfills and build resilient soil in East New York.
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ENYF Compost Updates
ENYF! has resumed public food scrap collection at our ENY Youth Farm location - starting March 1st!
In light of the City of New York's recen't budget cuts to community composting, ENYF! is no longer able to collect food scraps year-round (October - February) at our public drop-off sites.
Keep scrolling to learn more about how you can support saving community compost programs in NYC!
DSNY's Curbside Composting program is currently active for participating boroughs and neighborhoods. Click here for more information and info sessions.
Save Community Composting in NYC!
The NYC Compost Project has received complete budget cuts by the City of New York.
This means less compost, and less composting in East New York.
♥ See slideshow or click here for more information on what this means for Community Composting in NYC ♥
**Click here for a Bloomberg article on an inside look at the past, present, and future of composting in NYC**
**Click here for a map of community-supported Food Scrap Drop-Off Sites.**
Get Soil and Compost in East New York
Our distributions are for backyard and household gardeners in East New York. Register here!
♥ GreenThumb community gardens can request
soil deliveries
email [email protected] for compost deliveries ♥
See our Resources section at the bottom of the page for more opportunities to get compost in NYC! ♥
Food Scrap Collection
About
East New York Farms! Compost Project has been operating for over 15 years! We collect food scraps during the growing season to process into nutrient-rich compost for farms and gardens in East New York to grow organic produce.
On the UCC Youth Farm, we use a 5-bin compost systems and a windrow system to process food scraps.
We keep our operations local and are continually working to divert biodegradable waste and keep composting in the community.
ENYF! Hauling Services (April-October)
Thank you for a successful 2023 Season! ENYF! Hauling pauses for the winter and will resume in Spring 2024.
**Our household pickup program has closed as city-wide brown bin composting expands. We are continuing to work with community-based organizations in East New York.**
You can find a map of year-round drop off locations below and here.
Look for a green toter at our ENY Youth Farm location
March - September
(620 Schenck Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11207)
Keep an eye out for other FSDO locations in East New York using this map!
View the map to see where we are currently accepting food scraps.
Why Compost?
Tips on how to be more environmentally friendly when you bring food scraps:
- Freeze your food scraps. This can help eliminate odor and leakage.
- Store your food scraps in a reusable container. It's sturdy and you can reuse over and over again. (Some examples include: take out containers, coffee cans, mason jars, bucket with lid, etc.)
- Reduce odor from food scraps. Sprinkle baking soda or coffee grounds or a vinger spritz.
What to Compost with ENYF?
What we CAN accept:
Fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, eggshells, nut shells, rice, bread, grains, leaves, houseplants, soil, dried flowers, soiled paper (e.g. napkins)
What we CAN’T accept:
Meat, fish, dairy products, fats, grease, oil, ashes, and animal waste.
Community Resources
Additional Composting Resources in NYC
Resources
Be sure to check out our partners who are also doing amazing compost work throughout New York City!
- Get DSNY compost
- DSNY Composting info, resources, flyers
- GreenThumb Materials Request Form (for community gardeners)
- Big Reuse Compost Givebacks and events
- Earth Matter Compost Pickup Request Form - (for Community Greening Projects)
- [not available at this time] GrowNYC Compost Givebacks
- Big Reuse food scrap drop-off, volunteering, distributions
- BK ROT curbside composting
- GrowNYC food scrap drop-off
- Lower East Side Ecology Center food scrap drop-off, events
KEY:
- Green - No app required for access. Schedule may vary.
- Orange - Accessible 24/7 via the NYC Compost app.
Info
Composting Resources for NYC residents:
- Slideshow: DSNY Brown Bin Composting 101
- Info: Composting in large multi-unit (high rise) buildings
- Watch: Home Composting Basics on YouTube by ILSR and Brenda Platt
- News: NYC’s Community Composting Cuts Are Putting Its Curbside Plan at Risk
- News: NYC Dept. of Sanitation is expanding composting in NYC!
- News: NYC Makes it Mandatory for Residential Buildings to Recycle Food Waste
- Play this composting game
- Curbside composting in NYC
- Outdoor, Indoor Composting Guide, NYC Master Composter Manual