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DSNY warns Manhattan residents: composting becomes mandatory April 1; enforcement and bins discussed
Summary
A Department of Sanitation liaison told Community Board 2 that starting April 1 composting is mandatory and that buildings that do not separate food scraps may receive summonses; meeting attendees asked about building exemptions, suitable containers and outreach to tenants.
A representative from the New York City Department of Sanitation told Manhattan Community Board 2 that starting April 1 the city will begin issuing summonses for failure to separate compostable food scraps, and staff at the meeting fielded residents’ questions about containers, building types and enforcement timing.
Marissa Yanni, Manhattan community affairs liaison for DSNY, told the board: “Starting April 1, it’s no joke. You will receive a ticket if you do not compost.” She advised that compostable material must be separated from regular garbage and placed in a clearly labeled bin with a lid that is 55 gallons or smaller, and that property managers or tenants may use any such bin rather than a DSNY‑branded container.
Board members and several residents asked how the rules apply to mixed‑use or commercial buildings that use private carting companies, whether tenants would be taught how to compost, and how fines are applied. Yanni said DSNY has done outreach since October and has been tabling in building lobbies and at community events; she also said help materials and recorded information sessions are available online.
On enforcement, Yanni said inspectors will issue summonses when they observe compostable material in the regular garbage bag rather than for lack of a container: “It is not due to lack of compost bin that you will receive the ticket. It is actual compostable material in the black bag.” Residents asked how often a property could be cited; Yanni said a property can be cited multiple times and an individual street‑level inspection could trigger a ticket, subject to the usual procedures.
Several residents raised operational questions — whether clear versus colored inner bags were required, how pizza boxes should be handled, and how small co‑ops or three‑unit buildings should comply — and a DSNY liaison answered that clear liners are preferred and that greasy pizza boxes generally go into recycling or compost only if heavily soiled.
Community members urged DSNY to do tenant‑focused outreach and to consider a grace period; Yanni said the department has been doing presentations and will continue outreach and could provide more decals and flyers to the district office.
The board’s public session also included reminders from elected‑office staff about upcoming composting workshops and participatory‑budgeting events tied to local council offices.
