The New York City Department of Sanitation disclosed that residents have reached yet another composting record, separating and setting out more than 5.9 million pounds of food and yard waste last week alone – the highest level of separated compostable material collected curbside in the city’s history.
This amount far surpasses the record-breaking amounts from this spring, showing that if you make it easy for New Yorkers to do the right thing –to fight rats and help the environment – they’ll do it every time.
DSNY picks up compost – all leaf and yard waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper – from every resident on recycling day, part of an easy-to-use service. There is no sign-up required, and residents can use any bin 55 gallons or less with a secure lid.
Material collected in DSNY’s curbside composting program is either turned into finished compost for parks and gardens, or into renewable energy to heat local homes and businesses reducing the need for fracked gas. This year alone, DSNY gave away more than 8 million pounds of finished compost to residents through a network of four regular giveback sites and dozens of popup events across the five boroughs.
Since curbside composting went citywide last October 2025, Staten Islanders have produced the most compostable material per capita – roughly one pound per person, per week – while Queens residents have produced the most compostable material overall, more than 61 million pounds total in the first year.
The 5.9 million pounds of material collected during the week of November 9 to 15 broke previous records set in the spring:
During the second week of April, the Department collected nearly 3.6 million pounds of compost, more than three times what was collected at the same time last year and, at the time, the highest level of separated compostable material collected curbside in the City’s history.
That record was broken by the third week, at 4.5 million pounds, a 400 percent increase over the same time the year before.
That record was broken by the fourth week, at 5.24 million pounds, a 500 percent increase over the same time the year before.
And New Yorkers broke that record during the week of May 18 to 24, when they set out 5.4 million pounds of compostable material.
Published January 2026