Upcoming webinar August 28th on 'How to Plan a Pumpkin Smash Event For Your Community'
Hear directly from two of DEC’s composting experts, Kristine Ellsworth, Environmental Engineer, and Miranda Wolf, Environmental Program Specialist—about the State’s investments in growing and supporting the composting industry throughout New York State. The episode also provides information for New Yorkers looking to start composting at home or through programs available in their local community.
According to the EPA, one-third of the food produced in the United States goes uneaten each year with an average household of four spending nearly $3,000 each year on food that goes uneaten. When food goes uneaten, the resources that went into growing, harvesting and transporting that food go to waste as well. Reducing the amount of food you waste at home not only can help reduce your environmental footprint, but it can also save you money!
There are a number of ways you can get involved in composting at home:
Composting organic materials such as yard trimmings and food scraps reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or combustion facilities. Preventing organics from landfills reduces the production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Adding compost to the soil:
On this map, you can find where to purchase finished compost produced in New York State (available in bags or by bulk). Email [email protected] if you would like to be added to the map.
Composting at home is easy; all it takes is a little time, effort and patience. After plants and animals die, they decompose naturally as bacteria and fungi go to work breaking down the remains. Once decayed, the original material is no longer recognizable and takes the form of a rich, dark, soil-like substance. When humans help this process along it is called composting and the product is called compost.
For good composting, the bacteria and fungi that do most of the work must have four things to thrive, which are captured in this simple rhyme:
Making compost takes some care; add greens, browns, water and air.
DEC's home composting guide (PDF, 1.8 MB) can help you start composting!
If you can't compost outside, go inside with a worm bin.
Composting with worms is known as vermicomposting and you need four things to get started - a bin, bedding, worms (red wigglers recommended) and food scraps. Red wigglers are attracted to food odors and eat the degrading food and microorganisms, which really reduces odors in the bin! As worms eat their way through the food scraps in your bin, they create castings which can be used as a soil amendment in your house plants or garden.
Vermicomposting Resources
Watch DEC's Gary Feinland discuss trouble shooting your backyard compost pile.
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| The Pile Smells | Too many "greens" | Add more browns and turn the pile |
| Not enough air | Turn the pile | |
| Too much water | Add dry browns and turn the pile (Just a few drops should come out when you squeeze a handful of the partly degraded composting material.) | |
| The Pile Isn't Doing Anything | Pile is too small | Increase the size of the pile and add more material. |
| Too wet/not enough air | Turn the pile, add more browns. | |
| There are too many browns | Add more greens and mix in. | |
| The Pile Freezes in the Winter | Pile too small and not insulated | Increase the size of the pile and add more material. Add a layer of browns around the bin as insulation. |
| Flies are on top of the Pile | Food is not buried | Bury food three inches under browns or composting material. |
| Animals are Attracted to the Bin | Food is not buried | Bury food three inches under browns or composting material. |
| Bin is not Animal Resistant | Use 1/2 inch hardware cloth around the bin. |
Local community composting programs are gaining in popularity across New York State. Communities are diverting food scraps from the waste stream and supplying participants with fresh, local compost! Look for a food scraps drop off program in your area or residential food scraps pick up service.
Explore the map below to find food scraps drop-off programs and/or residential collection services near you. This map is maintained by NYS Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3), Institute for Sustainability Engagement and DEC.
Pumpkins and other fall gourds are great additions to your home compost pile. Below are some tips for composting pumpkins:
Instead of throwing your carved pumpkins into the garbage, some local governments and community groups host pumpkin smashes or pumpkin drop-off events where residents are invited to drop off their pumpkins for composting. If there is an event happening in your community that you would like listed, please email [email protected]
DEC is excited to host a webinar, August 28th 1:00 - 2:15 PM, featuring Tom Twente (Grow Amsterdam NY), Dan Lilkas-Rain (Town of Bethlehem), Kaitlynn McCumiskey (Ontario County) and Caitlin Orellana (Science Museum of Long Island) to discuss planning a pumpkin smash event for your community. Each speaker comes with experience in hosting pumpkin smash events in their own communities and will review the finer details of hosting a pumpkin smash event including, but not limited to, location selection, how to prepare and execute a successful event, how to make the event engaging with various activities, volunteer management, and more!
Keep your tree out of the landfill and make the most of your Christmas tree:
View more tips on giving your Christmas tree a second life.
If there is a Christmas tree collection event happening in your community that you would like listed, please email [email protected]
Check if it is a drop-off or curbside pickup program. Be sure to remove any tinsel, ornaments, ornament hooks and other decorations from your Christmas tree.
Many residents do not have the time or space to compost large quantities of organic materials, such as fallen leaves. Some municipalities operate compost facilities that accept leaves, grass and branches. These facilities divert materials that would otherwise take up space in landfills. In addition, many municipalities now ban leaves from landfill disposal. Since burning leaves is prohibited in New York State, sending leaves to a compost facility is one of the few options still available to residents. Find out what's happening in your area. If no program exists, urge your community leaders to put one in place.
Leave it on the lawn refers to leaving cut grass and leaves on your lawn and allowing them to naturally decompose. Mulch mowing leaves and leaving cut grass on your lawn saves time, returns nutrients to the soil, and is good for the environment.
Learn more about reusing mulched leaves and grass clippings.
Every year, New York State joins the international community in celebrating International Compost Awareness Week. Thank you to everyone who celebrated in 2026, we look forward to sharing plans for 2027.Sign up to stay up to date on 2027 Compost Awareness Week announcements.
DMM, Bureau of Waste Reduction and Recycling
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-7253
