Budget Hearing Highlights Demand for Increased Funding for NYC Composting Network

City officials and advocates gathered for a budget hearing on May 12, 2025, to discuss the funding request for the New York City Composting Network. This initiative aims to enhance composting efforts across the city and promote environmental sustainability within neighborhoods.

The hearing highlighted a growing demand for increased funding to support community composting projects. Domingo Morales, founder of Compost Power, emphasized the impact of last year’s funding, noting that it allowed initiatives to flourish and reduced rat populations while creating accessible composting solutions for public housing residents. He pointed out that visibility and engagement with active compost sites equip residents with the knowledge necessary to participate effectively in the program (Source: https://youtu.be/xBtbVjWZrBw&t=17653).

Justin Green, executive director of Big Reuse, echoed Morales’s sentiments by showcasing the success of compost drop-off sites and food scrap collection initiatives that expanded the composting network. Green mentioned initiatives that have positively affected over 75 schools, reiterating the importance of educational outreach in encouraging community participation in composting efforts (Source: https://youtu.be/xBtbVjWZrBw&t=17853).

Discussion at the hearing also revealed concerns surrounding the city’s current waste diversion rates. In April 2025, after a mandatory composting law was enforced, the city saw a stark increase in compostable material collection—up nearly 400 percent from the previous year. However, city officials acknowledged a need for further initiatives to help achieve higher waste diversion rates, currently only around 5 percent of compostable waste (Source: https://youtu.be/xBtbVjWZrBw&t=2209). The emphasis on education and outreach was underscored, particularly after the city temporarily suspended compost enforcement fines to better inform residents about proper composting practices (Source: https://youtu.be/xBtbVjWZrBw&t=2437).

Participants in the meeting reiterated that without substantial funding for composting education, efforts to divert organic waste could falter. As the city aims to enhance its zero-waste goals, Morales noted the importance of providing reliable resources for New Yorkers to manage their compostable waste effectively (Source: https://youtu.be/xBtbVjWZrBw&t=2209). The proposed funding would not only support composting education but also the creation of new composting sites, which would ultimately be essential for the long-term sustainability of urban waste management.

The outcome of this funding request will be pivotal in determining how New York City progresses toward its ambitious sustainability goals and fosters community engagement in vital composting initiatives. As the council continues to deliberate, advocates express hope that the proposed measures will lead to a cleaner and greener city for all residents.