A Composting Conundrum: When Trash Becomes a Treasure Trove of Trouble

On April 1, 2025—ironically, April Fool’s Day—the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) flipped the lid on a new era of waste management with the full rollout of its mandatory composting program. But for many property owners and managers, the policy has felt more like a bad joke than a green revolution.

Under the new rules, all food waste must now be separated from regular garbage. Tossing an apple core in the wrong bin? That’s now grounds for a fine. While this sounds simple enough on paper—or maybe banana peel—it’s causing a real stink in practice. Particularly for large multi-unit buildings, the law has created a dumpster fire of logistical and financial headaches.

In single-family or two-family homes, the property owner likely holds the composting reins and can ensure compliance with the law. But in the sprawling towers of New York’s rental landscape, it's not so easy to keep tabs on what tenants toss. Simply plopping a green bin in the basement doesn't guarantee participation—especially when building owners are the ones left holding the (garbage) bag.

Under the DSNY's new policy, if a tenant fails to comply, the building owner can be fined. These fines cannot be passed on to renters, even if they’re the ones doing the dumping. It’s a classic case of the wrong people being stuck with the rotten end of the carrot.

A few days before the compost hit the fan—er, before the April 1 deadline—New York Apartment Association (NYAA) CEO Kenny Burgos testified before the City Council. In his remarks, he urged city leaders not to sweep concerns under the rug—or the compost bin. Burgos called for a stronger education campaign to inform tenants about the composting program, stressing that without proper outreach, participation would remain in the dumps.

He also cited discouraging data: despite a broader rollout of the program, curbside organic waste capture rates have actually gone down. In other words, New Yorkers aren’t exactly composting with enthusiasm. Burgos called for a delay in enforcement and pushed for a strategy rooted in collaboration—not compost confrontation.

But unfortunately, the city didn’t let the compost cool. Fines started being issued from day one. DSNY began citing buildings where tenants failed to comply, regardless of how much effort the owners had made. It was, to say the least, a garbage situation.

NYAA defended property owners who felt blindsided by the rollout. We spoke to multiple media outlets. To the New York Post, we explained that superintendents were being pulled off essential maintenance duties just to go dumpster diving. On NY1, we argued that instead of hauling owners to the curb, the city should work with them to clean up the mess—figuratively and literally.

The impact has been especially trashy for rent-stabilized buildings, where capped rents and rising costs have already left owners scraping the bottom of the barrel. Now, these buildings face a new dilemma: spend precious resources hiring staff to comb through coffee grounds and eggshells, or pay steep fines for noncompliance. 

Weeks after the policy's implementation—and after significant pushback —the city quietly dialed things down. DSNY announced it would no longer issue fines to buildings with fewer than 30 units. It was a small victory, but for larger buildings, the waste wars rage on.

For those still under the microscope, the policy continues to be a load of rubbish. Without a mechanism to hold tenants accountable, building owners remain on the hook for someone else’s half-eaten burrito.

At the end of the day, most property owners support sustainability goals. Turning waste into soil, not strife, is a cause we can all get behind. But green policies need to be rooted in fairness, transparency, and shared responsibility. Otherwise, it’s just a pile of poorly composted problems.

Until then, many owners feel stuck between a bin and a hard place—trying to save the planet while not letting their bottom line rot.