Brown organics collection bins/DSNY
September 1, by Nathaly Pesantez
The Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) organics collection program will be arriving to Long Island City in October.
LIC residents will be able to throw away organic waste, including food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste through a curbside program or a single drop-off site.
Buildings with two to nine apartments are automatically included in the program, and will share one large bin among residents. Each apartment will also receive a starter kit containing a kitchen container, a brochure, a coupon, and a sticker.
Single family homes are also automatically enrolled, and will receive a small bin and a starter kit.
For buildings with more than nine units, or on commercial streets, building management has to apply to participate in the program. Once the building is approved, DSNY staff will train and educate building staff on proper disposal methods, according to a spokesperson for the DSNY.
Organic collection service starts on the week of October 30, and will occur once a week on recycling day.
The organics collection program is completely voluntary to take part in, and there are no penalties for choosing not to participate.
The DSNY says that organic waste—yard waste, compostable paper, food scraps—account for over 30 percent of all waste generated by residents in the city. The organics collection program aims to reduce waste and turn it into compost—organic matter rich in nutrients that aid plant growth—and renewable energy. By the end of 2018, all New Yorkers should have access to curbside service or a neighborhood drop-off point for organic waste.
Visit the DSNY organic collections site for detailed instructions on how best to use the brown bins.
