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There are over 200 community composting sites and 8 to 10 mid-size operations in the five boroughs.

There is no one way to compost. Therefore, many sites vary in composting method, from bin systems, to tumblers to windrows and more. Some sites accept food scraps from the local community, and some sites only from their garden members; or they could be connected to an urban farm or a non-profit dedicated to collecting and processing food scraps.

A few community composting sites in New York City process organics from the general public collected at NYC Greenmarkets and can handle over 100 tons of organic material per year. These larger operations sometimes have partnership with the NYC Compost Project which is managed and funded by NYC’s Department of Sanitation. Those sites are called Local Organics Recovery Programs (LORP).

Some of the mid-sized community compost sites in NYC include the following LORP projects:

Lower East Side Ecology Center (LESEC)

The LESEC was founded in 1987 as one of the first organizations to offer community based composting in New York City.  Today, the LESEC hosts the community compost drop off location at the Union Square Green Market, open for collection 4 days a week. The LESEC also hosts the NYC Compost Project in Manhattan for New York City residents.  For years, the LESEC has been integral to compost and recycling education in NYC offering hundreds of collection opportunities, classes, resources and public programs.

Added Value’s Red Hook Community Farm

The Farm‘s community compost program is the largest in Brooklyn, with an all volunteer-based, manually turned windrow system, using only sustainable resources. Some of the feedstock comes from the Farm itself (spent crops, weeds), or the customers who buy at the Farm’s weekly produce market at the site and then bring back their kitchen scraps. Most of the finished compost is used on the farm to grow the crops that are then sold at the produce market, which helps close the loop in the neighborhood.

Earth Matter

Earth Matter runs a highly visible, tourist-friendly compost site at its Outpost location on Governor’s Island.  The organization composts organic material from public drop-off locations.  The site engages many volunteers, both through group volunteer days and regular work days, and hosts hands-on education programs.

BIG!Compost (Build It Green)

Build It Green began as a reuse center for NYC’s construction and demolition materials, but has since expanded to include a large composting operation that collects and processes food scraps from community dropoff locations.  The compost is used in New York City’s street trees, community gardens, and beautification projects

Gowanus Canal Conservancy

The Gowanus Canal Conservancy operates a community composting site in Brooklyn.