Brown organics collection bins/DSNY
Sept. 1, 2017 By Nathaly Pesantez
The organics collection program by the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is coming to Sunnyside and Woodside in October.
Residents in the two neighborhoods will be able to dispose of organic waste, including food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste through a curbside program or by depositing at a neighborhood drop-off site.
Buildings with two to nine apartments are automatically included in the program, and will get one large bin to share. Each apartment unit will also get one starter kit containing a kitchen container, a brochure, a coupon, and a sticker per apartment.
Single family homes in the area are also automatically included and will receive one small bin and a starter kit.
After the bins arrive in October, organic collection service starts on the week of October 30, and will occur once a week on recycling day.
For buildings with more than nine units, or on commercial streets, building management has to apply to participate in the program. Once the building is approved, DSNY staff will train and educate building staff on proper disposal methods, according to a spokesperson for the DSNY.
Disposing waste through the organics collection program is voluntary, and there are no penalties for choosing not to participate.
The DSNY says that organic waste—yard waste, compostable paper, food scraps—account for over 30 percent of all waste generated by residents in the city. The organics collection program is an attempt by the city to reduce waste and turn it into compost—organic matter rich in nutrients that aid plant growth—and renewable energy. By the end of 2018, all New Yorkers should have access to curbside service or a neighborhood drop-off point for organic waste.
For detailed instructions on how best to use the brown bins, visit the DSNY organic collections site.
