Since 2011, GrowNYC Compost Program has been operating composting drop-off sites around the city to encourage New Yorkers to recycle their food scraps.

"This is a great way of getting the food into the containers and being reused,” said Arabelle Taggart, a frequent composter.

Like many people, Taggart and Robin Hauptman said they’re dedicated to recycling food and organic waste to improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"There's enough garbage in the world,” Hauptman said. “I figured my food scraps will go to something that's so important."

GrowNYC, however, will have to shut down all of the more than 50 community composting sites it operates by May 20 because the city cut its funding. It’s one of eight community composting organizations that have been impacted by budget cuts.

In a statement, a GrowNYC spokesperson said, "Despite our best efforts to get these mid-year cuts reversed, we were not successful. Regrettably, we will have to lay off over 60 staff from GrowNYC's Compost Program."

It’s disappointing news to composters like Taggart and Hauptman, who frequent the East 47th Street composting site next to the farmers market — one of a number of city Greenmarkets GrowNYC also operates.

“Shutting it down, why?” Taggart asked. “This is the future, recycling everything. So why would you shut something down that's important to all of us.”

"It's very disappointing,” said Irene Holstrom, who also uses the East 47th Street composting site. “I like to walk through the farmers market, drop off my garbage and walk back."

City Department of Sanitation officials tell NY1 that although November's budget cuts ended the city composting funding through nonprofit organizations, the city operates curbside composting through regular recycling pickup in Queens and Brooklyn. That program is slated to expand into the rest of the city in early October.

In a statement, a DSNY spokesperson said, “This universal approach is WORKING. The FY2023 Mayor’s Management Report showed that DSNY had diverted 211 million lbs of compostable material from landfill, compared to 165 million lbs the year before."

The city has also deployed about 400 composting “smart bins" in all five boroughs. Still, some composters say, it's not the same.

"I'm devastated, and I really mean that, because number one, the people that work here have been incredibly helpful, incredibly nice,” Taggart said. “Very much part of the community.”

GrownNYC said it is actively trying to help composting employees move into employment elsewhere within the nonprofit organization, while also providing transition support to employees leaving GrowNYC.

The GrowNYC composting site closures include locations at Greenmarkets, community gardens and street corners that the environmental nonprofit operates. Prior to the cuts, the nonprofit was contracted by the city's Department of Sanitation to operate food scrap drop off sites.