Coming quickly on the heels of last month’s announcement of the roadmap for citywide curbside composting service, NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) announced on Monday, March 6, that all NYC Department of Education (DOE) schools in The Bronx will receive five-nights-per-week collection of compostable material. This means less rat food out in the black bags each night, cleaner streets, and cleaner air – led by students.

“Just like with recycling decades ago, young people are our best ambassadors for composting,” said DSNY commissioner, Jessica Tisch. “They see the difference it makes to compost at school, and they tell their parents and those close to them. We are proud to be working with our partners at DOE to raise the next generation of advocates for clean streets, and to be serving the people of The Bronx.”

 

With the 325 Bronx schools all now trained on proper material separation and receiving service, the total number of schools that separate their compostable material stands at 1,211, according to DSNY. The remaining 533 – which are primarily in Queens and Brooklyn – will receive service starting in the 2023-24 school year, bringing this important program to every single DOE school, DSNY officials said. Each school received training for custodial staff, faculty, and students on the right way to separate compost and the importance of doing so, according to the department.

 

Schools Chancellor David C. Banks said as the largest school system in the country, he was proud that New York City schools were fully embracing sustainability and working to improve the city its students will inherit, while setting an example for cities across the nation.  “Alongside these efforts, we have a responsibility as a city to ensure that compostable material is properly disposed of to keep our streets are clean,” Banks said. “I applaud DSNY for taking this step and look forward to working with all of NYC Public Schools’ agency partners in the push for a more sustainable city and the fight against rats.”

 

The provision of curbside composting service to schools is in addition to the recent announcement of full citywide residential composting service, as reported, rolling out to every address in the entire City over the next 18 months, according to DSNY officials. They say this is the simplest, easiest-to-use curbside composting program ever, with no sign-up required. Both programs are also in addition to the department’s popular “Smart Composting Bins” program – which is also operational in The Bronx. DSNY officials remind residents that the app to open the bins is available for both iOS and Android phones. Taken together, these three initiatives – curbside service, Smart Composting Bins, and service at schools – represent the largest and most comprehensive composting program in the country, and a major front in the war on rats, officials said.

 

The news was also welcomed by Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, who said,  “The restorative work to bring environmental justice to neighborhoods across the Bronx will require the involvement of all of our stakeholders,” s“Educating our Bronx youth on the benefits of sustainability provided through the Department of Sanitation’s ‘brown bin’ program will allow our Bronx youth to fully participate in the important work of protecting our planet.”

 

She added, “I want to thank Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch and New York City Department of Education Schools Chancellor David Banks for launching this bold and innovative program that is a significant first step towards ensuring our youth inherit a healthier earth.”