Please Note: We take food scraps all year around during our regular compost open hours on:
- Sundays: 2-4 pm
- Saturday: 10:30 am -12:30 pm
Due to Mayor Adam’s elimination of funding for the New York Compost Project, we are no longer able to offer our 24/7 Do-It-Yourself (DIY) compost drop off. Cal 311 to complain and sign the petition to save community composting.
How do I know what I can and cannot drop off? Download our flier Q Gardens Community Food Scrap Drop Off Guidelines and see below. Please bring:- coffee grounds and tea leaves
- egg shells
- food-soiled paper towels or napkins (please shred!)
- fresh (healthy!) leaves, flowers, green plants and garden trimmings
- bread and grains (nothing with oil!)
- shredded newspaper, brown paper, cardboard
- meat, chicken, or fish scraps
- anything with fats, grease or oil
- cheese or dairy products
- non-compostable materials such as plastic, metals or glass
- pesticide-treated plants, grass clippings, deceased or pest-infested plants
Do you take biodegradable bags and compostable dinnerware? We are no longer taking biodegradable bags and compostable utensils and dinerware! They do not break down well in our system. Please save those drops offs for nearby GrowNYC greenmarkets such as Grand Army Plaza (Saturdays 8am-3pm) and Cortelyou (Sundays 8am – 1pm).
What if I have compostable food that is in ok shape but I know will spoil before I use it? Consider taking it to a nearby community fridge. Check out these resources from the FlatbushFriendly Fridge.
How should I save my scraps? You can save your food scraps in the refrigerator or freezer; freezing will kill any food flies and bugs often found on the skin or shell of most fruits and vegetables, and the added moisture helps in the compost decomposition process. Transporting your food scraps in a reusable container means no yucky plastic bag to get rid of.
How can I become a Q Gardens Compost Volunteer? We would love for you to join us! Sign up for the team at our volunteering page.
Can I get finished compost from Q Gardens? Compost in moderate amounts for individual use is free! You can pick it up anytime during garden open hours (see calendar). If you plan to stop by for a small amount (one bucker or two or less), write to compostcoords4qg@googlegroups.com to make sure it will be available. When available, we offer compost in bulk amounts and suggest a donation of 50 cents a pound for those who are able to afford it (negotiable on a case-by-case basis). Thanks in advance! Donations from bulk compost are one of the ways Q Gardens sustains its operations.
Q Gardens 