After Adams paused enforcement in 2025, the new mayor reinstated fines on day one and is staying the course
Fines Resumed on January 1 — Quietly, But Firmly
On his very first day in office, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration did something the previous mayor could not sustain: it quietly resumed fines for New Yorkers who fail to separate their organic waste for compost collection. The move attracted little immediate attention but represents a significant commitment to one of the most ambitious environmental policies in New York City history — and a direct reversal of the political calculation made by former Mayor Eric Adams, who paused enforcement in spring 2025 amid his re-election campaign. Fines now range from $25 for a first offense to $200 or more for repeat violations. As of February 2026, inspectors had issued 425 summonses since Mamdani took office — a modest number that sanitation officials say reflects a measured, education-first approach rather than aggressive ticketing.
Why Adams Paused the Fines — and Why Participation Dropped
The history here is important. The city’s mandatory curbside composting program, established under the Zero Waste Act passed by the City Council in 2023, was fully rolled out in 2024. Fines began in April 2025. Within weeks, participation surged: the weekly collection of organic waste jumped nearly threefold. Then Adams paused most enforcement, citing a need for more outreach and education. City Council members accused the Adams administration of “sabotaging” the program by cutting composting education funding and failing to properly prepare residents before demanding compliance. After the pause, participation declined. Sanitation department data showed that more than 90 percent of organic waste in New York City is still going to landfills. That figure underscores both the scale of the problem and the distance yet to travel.
The Environmental Stakes Are Enormous
Organic waste is a significant driver of greenhouse gas emissions from landfills. When food scraps, yard waste, and compostable materials decompose in landfills without oxygen, they produce methane — a potent greenhouse gas many times more damaging than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. New York City spends close to $500 million annually exporting its trash to out-of-state landfills and incinerators. Diverting organic waste into compost or anaerobic digestion — which produces renewable energy — could significantly reduce both costs and emissions. “We’re spending almost $500 million a year exporting our trash to landfills and incinerators,” said one environmental advocate quoted by Gothamist. “So if we can take even 50% of that third and turn it into a useful finished compost, we will be saving money for city taxpayers on top of the environmental benefits.” When fines were briefly enforced in April 2025, the city’s capture rate jumped to nearly 9,000 tons in a single month — nearly three times the previous month’s total. That data point suggests enforcement works.
Pushback and Political Complexity
Not everyone is enthusiastic. The City Council’s Common Sense Caucus has pushed to make composting voluntary rather than mandatory. “People should still be free to choose. This is still America,” said Council Member Joann Ariola, a caucus co-chair. Some residents and building superintendents argue that the logistics of separating waste in dense urban apartment buildings are genuinely challenging, especially in older structures without the space for multiple waste streams. Landlords of both small and large buildings can be fined. The Mamdani administration has emphasized that inspectors are available to advise buildings on compliance and that residents can call 311 to request guidance. For the scientific case for urban composting, the EPA’s composting resources are comprehensive. New York City’s own waste diversion data is tracked by the NYC Department of Sanitation organics page. The Zero Waste Act and its legislative history are available through the NYC Council Legislative Research Center. The Inside Climate News reporting that first documented Mamdani’s composting enforcement resumption is available at Inside Climate News. Mamdani’s willingness to enforce an unpopular but environmentally necessary policy from day one of his term signals that on environmental issues, at least, he intends to govern as he campaigned.
