Nearly 30,000 Tenants in Bronx, N.Y., Gain Access to Organics Collection

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is expanding its curbside organics collection service to the nearly 30,000 tenants living in several Bronx community board apartment buildings. Food waste, food-soiled paper and yard waste will be collected from residents and converted into either compost or energy.

Currently, food scrap recycling is available to more than 3 million residents in New York City, and DSNY expects the service to be available to all residents—through either curbside service or access to nearby drop-off sites—by the end of 2018.

Tenants will place their organics in hard-sided locking bins instead of plastic bags to keep the material safe from rats and raccoons. In addition to the Bronx tenants, the collection services will also be available to certain nonprofits and city agencies.

Diapers, animal waste, wrappers and packaging, foam products, metal, glass and recyclable paper will not be accepted. Bins are currently being distributed, with collection set to begin the week of March 5.