Wanted: Food-scraps for Compost

Banana Cutting: Councilman Keith Powers in celebration of Earth Day visits food scrap collection site in Hammarskjold Plaza with (Left) Lia Lucero, LES Ecology Center and (Right) FDHP President Sherrill Kazan.

We have partnered with LES Ecology Center through the NYC Compost Program to bring this environmentally sustainable food-scrap collection program to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. We provide the the collection site and LES Ecology Center transports the food scraps to East River Park to be transformed into compost. A pioneer in urban composting, The LES Ecology Center operation is new to the Plaza and while this program is no longer part of the Greenmarket, GrowNYC is still involved with bringing awareness about the benefits of composting. Food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste comprise 30 percent of New Yorkers trash. By diverting the waste from landfills, the compost builds healthy soils for schools, parks and community gardens.

WHERE: Look for the GREEN BINS  behind Pink Moose cafe and observe the signs which clarify the rules.

WHAT IS ACCEPTED: 

  • YES: Fruit and veggies, coffee, tea, nuts, grains and baked goods. 
  • NO: meat, fish or dairy products.  
  • NO: plastics or paper products, and absolutely NO dog poop! 

WHEN: The bins will be open for collection every Wednesday from approximately 8:30 AM to 3 PM. After that, the bins are locked down to deter vermin and misuse until the Ecology Center collects the waste for transport to East River Park Compost Yard for processing. Finished compost is donated to community greening groups. As the program gets underway, more bins will  be added to meet demand. 

We welcome your feedback: email fdhp@hammarskjoldplaza.org