In a recent post, I talked about food composting’s contribution to me living a more sustainable lifestyle.
As I wrote, I began to wonder where do mine, and the residents of New York City’s, collected food scraps go?
I went down an investigative rabbit hole to get some answers.
I can’t truly be a proud and engaged resident and not know what is going on with programs that I appreciate, support, and believe that my neighborhoods and I benefit from, right?
First, I was met with forums littered with suspicion and conspiracy theories about their whereabouts. This felt very discouraging and like a dead end in my research. But then I found some other sources with more insights like this article by Staten Island Live and the NYC Department of Sanitation webpage.
What I gathered is that there may need to be more transparency and awareness created about why composting is a program in NYC, what happens with our food scraps, and why it matters.
THE WHY
From what I was able to gather, a key why for the composting program was to containerize food scraps to curb the incessant rat population in the city.
Prior to the program, food waste was put in plastic trash bags and put out on the sidewalks of both residential and commercial properties for city sanitation to collect. This was a hot bed for rats, mice, and other critters to easily bust open the bags to feast on disposed food and spread germs and waste, compromising the cleanliness and sanitation of the city. Containerizing the waste makes it harder for them to access food waste. With less readily available food they’ll procreate less or migrate elsewhere.
There was also an overpopulation of waste in the landfills in Staten Island where a lot of NYC’s waste goes FOR PROCESSING. Putting this reusable waste to better use through composting minimizes dangerous levels of methane (greenhouse) gases being released into our atmosphere.
WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR FOOD SCRAPS
WHAT’S DONE WITH THEM
Per DSNY spokesman, Vincent Gragnani, in a SI (Staten Island) Live article published this April,
most of the waste goes to either to the Newtown Creek digester eggs or the Staten Island Compost Facility.
A smaller amount goes to out of state facilities in New Jersey and Massachusetts. I wasn’t able to find an exact breakdown of where the organic material is going though.
WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR
The scraps are used for renewable energy via the Newton Creek digester eggs or finished compost from the Staten Island Compost Facility.
New York City residents can pick up free bagged compost from giveback sites or Department of Sanitation hosted composting giveback events throughout all of the boroughs in the summer for their gardening, landscaping, and planting needs.
- NYC agencies and non-profits are also able to get free compost and mulch for their programs and landscaping projects.
- Commercial landscapers and businesses can purchase the material in bulk.
- Find more info here.
I have some plants to repot and a mini urban garden I’m starting. I may get some composted soil that I’m entitled to from one of the giveback sites for these projects.
WHY IT MATTERS
Though a larger intention of the program may be to lessen a vermin pain point for the city, it’s also good for the earth and human beings. It’s engaging with Mama Earth as we were meant to, co-creating and co-recreating together.
New York City residents get more equitable access to quality soil for their personal gardening, landscaping, and planting needs and a healthier earth.
A way to address the city rat problem, create more renewable energy, and provide more equitable access to quality soil for New Yorkers. It won’t solve all of the world’s problems, but it’s a step in a direction that serves a higher good. I hope this program may have even created some more jobs. It sounds like a productive step in realigning with the earth and the land more.
I’m no journalist or composting connoisseur of any sorts, so if you want to learn more about composting (in the US/NYC) and why it’s important, check out some of these links below and consider participating in your city, town, or local park’s offerings.
Milan Noelle 
Leave a comment