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To reduce New York City's waste stream by more than 78,000 tons per year, the Department of Sanitation is asking City residents and institutions not to place grass clippings out for collection and disposal. Instead of raking and bagging clippings, New Yorkers are encouraged to leave them on the lawn, where they decompose naturally and return nutrients and moisture to the soil.

Private landscapers are not permitted to place clippings at the curb for collection by the Department of Sanitation. Landscapers should work with their customers to adopt "leave it on the lawn" practices. Otherwise, landscapers are responsible for removing clippings and taking them to a composting or waste-disposal facility. (For more info on NYC yard waste regulations, see NYC Yard Waste Composting Law.

See the "quick-start" guide, leave it on the lawn. In addition, the NYC Compost Project holds periodic "leave it on the lawn" workshops; see the nyc composting calendar for information on any upcoming workshops.

For more information, see:
• seasonal guide to a healthy lawn (naturally)
• landscaper training guides
• soil health & compost

nyc compost project | how to compost | compost science | nyc compost resources
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