The NYC Compost Project on Staten Island
Upcoming Events:
Master Composter Certificate Course
Application deadline: March 1, 2012
Class dates and time: 7 Thursdays, 6 to 9 pm, March 22, 29, April 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10
Field trips: 2 days in Spring 2012, details TBA
Location: Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (Building P)
This comprehensive train-the-trainer course is designed to promote the practice of composting in homes, schools, and community gardens on Staten Island. The program is held at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in the spring and consists of seven Thursday evening classes, two off-site field trips, and 30 hours of Staten Island based volunteer outreach service in compost education and promotion. Course material fee is $40; limited scholarships are available. Visit the Master Composter Certificate course page to apply or for greater course details. For more information email us at compost@snug-harbor.org or call our Compost Helpline at 718-425-3558
Golden Apple Awards
DSNY is offering cash prizes for winners of this year's 2012 Golden Apple awards. Prior year winners have received as much as $6,000 for Citywide Winners; up to $3,000 for Borough Winners; up to $1,500 for Borough Runners-Up - and as much as $1,000 for Golden Shovel Award winners. Award levels change year-to-year based on available funding.
NYC Schools must complete the online submission for their applied-learning environmental education projects by May 1. Please see the webpage www.nyc.gov/wasteless/goldenapple for details.
Current information and services include:
How to Compost
Visit the NYC Compost Project on Staten Island's Compost Demonstration site and learn the basics about home composting.Request a Workshop
Are you a Teacher, Community Gardener, Landscaper, Camp Director, or Community Group Member that is interested in composting? The NYC Compost Project on Staten Island would like to provide your class, staff, or group with a comprehensive, engaging and rewarding workshop on composting. Our workshops are uniquely tailored for you and your audience. Classes can be provided at Snug Harbor or we can visit you.
For more information and to arrange a workshop please email us at compost@snug-harbor.org or call 718-425-3557.
There is a $25 fee for workshops (maximum # of Students is 25). This fee is used to cover the costs of demonstrational materials and informational handouts
Some specific programs include:
Workshops for Community Groups.
Do you belong to a community garden, neighborhood association, or civic group that is interested in composting? We will visit you (groups of 5 or more) to present a hands-on workshop, and assist you in creating and maintaining your very own compost bin.
Workshops in the Classroom.
Learn about composting with our innovative Unearthing the Science of Composting class. Discover why a compost bin is such a rich and rewarding educational tool: Compost bins, supplemental texts and lesson plans for in-class activities are provided. This hands-on class encourages students to:
- Foster a sense of environmental stewardship by learning about the importance of reusing, reducing and recycling our waste.
- Discover the complex ecosystem in the decomposition process with working compost and live worms.
- Learn the essentials to start composting at school and at home.
- Realize the numerous benefits that compost provides to soil and plant health.
Workshops for Teachers.
Looking for a new way to introduce your class to ecology, environmental science, and recycling? Try composting! Learn how to set up a worm compost bin, maintain the system effectively, and discover creative ways to incorporate composting into your science, math, and language arts curriculum. This class may be held at any school for groups of 5 or more teachers.
For more information email us at compost@snug-harbor.org or call our Compost Helpline at 718-425-3558 Arrange for your class or community group to visit and see composting in action. Or, we can come to you.
Master Composter Certificate Course If you’re interested in gaining an in-depth knowledge of composting, and sharing your know-how and enthusiasm with people in Staten Island consider the Master Composter Certificate Course. This train-the-trainer course is designed to promote the practice of home composting and the reduction of our city’s solid waste.
Composting Accessories
All items below can be purchased at the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden Entrance/Gift Shop. The Gift Shop is open from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday through Sunday.
See Low Cost Compost Bins for NYC Residents for more info.
Garden Gourmet
Cost: $ 61
The recycled plastic compost bin is available to NYC residents at cost for $60. These bins normally retail for $75 to $95. The Garden Gourmet can hold 11 cubic feet of material and weighs 29 pounds. Parts are easily assembled – no tools – just follow the diagram in the instruction booklet. Finished size is 24” x 24” x 36”.
Wing Dinger
Cost: $20
An essential tool for turning your compost. Use the Wing Dinger weekly to properly mix the materials in your compost pile.
For more information email us at
compost@snug-harbor.org or call our Compost Helpline at 718-425-3558
Compost Givebacks At this time there is no raw material to create more compost.
Email us at compost@snug-harbor.org
or call our Compost Helpline at 718-425-3558.
The NYC Compost Project was created by the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) in 1993 to provide compost outreach and education to City residents and businesses. Funded and managed through the Department of Sanitation’s Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling, the NYC Compost Project programs are carried out by Department-funded staff at the City’s Botanical Gardens and the Lower East Side Ecology Center.