El Sol Brillante and Down to Earth Garden have had a combined composting system since the end of 2009. As of the end of 2022, we have diverted over 66 tons of food waste.

Our two gardens uses the bokashi method of recycling food waste.

At El Sol Brillante, anyone can drop off their food waste whenever the garden is open. Go straight to the back of the garden and follow the instructions on the red lid.

At Down to Earth Garden (corner of 12th St and Ave B), the public food waste drop-off hours are every Tuesdays 1:30-4 pm and Sundays 12-4 pm.

We take all food waste, including meat, bones, and seafood/shells, both cooked or raw.

We also accept plants, flowers, brown paper bags, egg cartons, etc. However, please keep them separate from food waste since we process them differently.

For other Public Food Scrap Drop-off Sites, please visit DSNY - Drop-Off Composting.