Concerns Over NYC's New Composting Fines And Enforcement Rollout

I, for one, thought it was an April Fools’ joke. Starting on April 1, 2025, New York City began enforcing fines for non-compliance with its composting regulations, marking a significant step in the city’s waste management efforts. While the initiative aims to promote sustainability by encouraging the composting of food scraps and yard waste, it has sparked concerns among residents, landlords, and local officials about the timing of the rollout, lack of public education, and the added burden it places on New Yorkers.

Council Member James F. Gennaro, a vocal critic of the program, expressed his frustration with the city’s lack of outreach and education leading up to the enforcement. “Many of my constituents are learning for the first time that the Department of Sanitation has just begun enforcing fines for not composting,” Gennaro said. “That does not surprise me, given the disastrous rollout of DSNY’s composting program.”

Under the new rules, residents and businesses must separate organic waste, such as food scraps and yard waste, from regular trash and place it in designated compost bins. Failing to comply can result in fines ranging from $25 to $300, depending on the type of offense and building.

However, the program’s implementation has faced significant challenges. Despite an announcement made six months ago, many New Yorkers were unaware of the new rules due to what critics describe as a lack of an effective public education campaign. With only about 5% of building owners currently compliant with the composting regulations, there’s widespread confusion about the policy.

Gennaro also criticized the timing of the initiative, which coincides with major holidays like Passover and Easter, times traditionally marked by large family meals and significant food waste. “New Yorkers have just had to deal with the headache of purchasing new NYC bins, only to be hit with yet another requirement just months later,” Gennaro remarked. “It’s like the blind leading the blind, and this is clearly not the right time for the implementation of fines.”

The policy has also raised concerns among landlords, particularly those managing multi-unit buildings. Many fear the added responsibility of ensuring tenant compliance will burden maintenance staff and property owners. Some landlords argue that the policy is disconnected from the realities of managing multi-unit housing, where compliance may be difficult to enforce without additional resources or clearer guidance.

Further complicating the situation, the city has reduced funding for community composting programs, which once played a key role in educating the public about sustainable waste practices. The closure of several composting sites has made it even harder for New Yorkers to adapt to the new rules.

In response to these issues, Council Member Gennaro is calling on Mayor Eric Adams and Acting Commissioner Javier Lojan to pause the enforcement of fines until the program's challenges are addressed. “This is a great idea, but the execution has been flawed. I call on the city to stop enforcing these fines until they address the real issues at hand,” Gennaro said.

While the goal of the composting program is to reduce the city's carbon footprint and divert organic waste from landfills, its success hinges on effective implementation and public engagement. As millions of New Yorkers face the complexities of composting during the holiday season and beyond, many are left wondering if the city's strategy truly meets their needs.

The city has not yet indicated whether it will adjust its approach. For now, however, many New Yorkers remain uncertain about how to comply with the new composting requirements. As Gennaro aptly pointed out, the administration has “taken a good idea like composting and turned it into complete garbage.”

By Shabsie Saphirstein