You could face a $200 fine if you set out trash that mixes food scraps or yard waste with regular garbage, and the city will start enforcing separation rules citywide.
Know which items must be kept out of the trash and how to contain them, because fixing sorting mistakes after a ticket arrives can cost you more than time and effort.
They’ll explain what the law requires, how fines escalate for repeated violations, and exactly how to sort food and yard waste so your household stays compliant.
Expect clear, practical tips on bins, collection times, and everyday habits that prevent tickets and make composting simple.
Understanding the New Composting Law and Fines
The law requires homeowners to separate food scraps and yard waste from regular trash, follow local curbside collection schedules, and store organics in approved containers to prevent pests. Fines apply when property owners repeatedly mix organics with regular garbage or fail to provide required bins.
Key Requirements for Homeowners
Homeowners must separate all food scraps, soiled paper, and yard waste from regular trash before collection day. They should use a certified compost bin or a city‑approved organics cart and place it at curbside on the designated pickup day.
Buildings that generate organics—single‑family homes, duplexes, and multiunit properties—must provide clear signage or instructions to occupants about sorting. They must keep indoor collection containers covered and cleaned to reduce odors and rodents. Homeowners should check municipal guidelines for allowable items (e.g., meat and dairy rules vary) and follow any labeling or bagging requirements.
Breakdown of Fine Amounts and Enforcement Details
Fines start modestly and scale with building size and repeat offenses; typical penalties range from $25 to $300 per violation in similar programs. For a single‑family homeowner, an improper disposal can trigger a fine near the midrange—commonly cited around $200 in recent reports—depending on local enforcement policies.
Enforcement usually follows a warning period, then written notices, and finally summonses. Inspectors or sanitation workers document violations at curbside during collection. Property owners, not tenants, typically receive the ticket; repeated noncompliance increases the penalty. Many municipalities publish appeal procedures and timelines for contesting a fine.
Who Is Responsible for Compliance
Property owners bear final responsibility for compliance, even when tenants generate the waste. Landlords of multiunit buildings must supply organics bins, post sorting instructions in common areas, and train staff handling trash and recycling.
Tenants share the duty to sort correctly; however, enforcement and payment fall to the owner. Building managers often act as the compliance point—coordinating pickups, ordering replacement carts, and tracking violations. Municipal sanitation departments enforce the law and issue fines to the property owner when curbside sorting standards are not met.
Common Violations and How to Avoid Them
Common violations include throwing food scraps into regular trash, placing organics in non‑approved bags, and leaving carts out on noncollection days. Another frequent issue is cross‑contamination—mixing compostables with recyclable materials or regular waste.
Avoid fines by labeling indoor and outdoor bins, keeping a small counter caddy for food scraps, and emptying it into the organics cart on collection day. Use approved compostable liners only if allowed by local rules. Schedule staff or tenant reminders before pickup days and request outreach materials from the sanitation department to post in shared spaces.
Compost education, correct containers, and consistent habits reduce the risk of a $200‑level penalty and keep curbside composting effective for the neighborhood.
How to Properly Sort and Dispose Organic Waste
The rules require separating food scraps, yard waste, and certain paper items into the designated organics container and keeping contaminants out. Residents should use a covered compost bin or the city’s brown cart, keep materials dry when needed, and use approved compostable bags only where allowed.
What to Compost: Accepted Materials
They should put fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, and tea bags into the organics stream. Food-soiled paper—like greasy pizza boxes, paper napkins, and uncoated paper plates—also goes in, but coated, waxed, or heavily plastic-laminated paper should stay out.
Meat, dairy, and bones are often accepted by municipal programs that process at high temperatures; residents must check local rules before adding them. Pet waste and diapers are usually banned from curbside organics and must go to trash unless a specific facility accepts them.
Use clear labeling at home: keep a small countertop pail for scraps and empty it into the brown compost bin or municipal organics cart at pickup.
Setting Up Your Composting Bin
Select a bin sized to household needs: a 5–20 gallon lidded kitchen pail fits most families for daily scraps. Place the outdoor bin or tumbler on soil or level ground to allow drainage and access for microbes and worms.
Layering helps. Add a handful of dry leaves, shredded paper, or yard trimmings under fresh food scraps to reduce odors and flies. Turn or aerate a backyard pile every 1–2 weeks; for tumblers, rotate per manufacturer directions to speed decomposition.
If using the municipal brown cart (for example, a DSNY-style brown bin), keep the cart lid closed and rinse the countertop pail weekly. Label bins clearly and store compostable bags or yard-waste ties nearby for convenience.
Leaf and Yard Waste Guidelines
Leaves, grass clippings, branches, and pruning debris belong in the organics stream but often have size or bundling rules. Chop branches to the length required by local collection (commonly under 4 feet) and bundle with twine if required.
Keep leaves loose or in paper yard-waste bags when the program specifies; many municipalities prohibit plastic bags for yard waste. Avoid mixing treated lumber, palm fronds, or large stumps into standard yard-waste collections—those typically need separate handling.
Check seasonal schedules: some cities run leaf collection only in fall. When composting on-site, mix dry leaves with green material at about a 2:1 ratio to maintain airflow and balanced decomposition.
Compostable Bags and Supply Tips
Buy certified compostable bags that meet ASTM D6400 or EN 13432 when local rules allow them in the organics cart. Do not assume “biodegradable” means compostable; look for certification logos or product specifications.
Store bagged scraps in the refrigerator or freezer if pickup is more than a few days away to prevent odor and pests. Keep a supply of twine, labels, and a small hand rake by the outdoor bin to simplify maintenance.
If the jurisdiction bans compostable bags in the brown cart, transfer loose scraps from the kitchen pail directly into the bin or use paper liners instead. They should always follow municipal guidance to avoid fines for contaminated loads.
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