NYS Compost Awareness Week 2023

Sunday, May 7st - Saturday, May 13th, 2023

For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food…Compost!

NYS Compost Awareness Week occurs each year during the first full week of May. Join NYSAR3 and communities across the State for this annual celebration that promotes International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), an initiative by the Compost Research and Education Foundation (CREF) that strives to raise public awareness about the many benefits of composting and how to make and use compost to regenerate soils. CLICK HERE to learn how you can join the celebration.

Local Educational Events

Explore the map below to find upcoming compost-related events near you. Click on an event of interest to view more information including the date, time, location, and more. Do you know of events happening in your region? Submit information to NYSAR3's Organics Council Chair, Jesse Kerns, at jekerns@syr.edu to be considered for inclusion in the listings below: 

Compost Bin Sales

  • Capital District Backyard Composter & Rain Barrel Truckload Sale
    Hosted by the Town of Bethlehem
    Pre-order deadline: April 15, 2023
    Pick-up date: Earth Day (April 22, 2023) between 9 AM – 1 PM
    Location: Town of Bethlehem’s Spring Recycle Fest.
    More info or to order: https://capitaldistrict.compostersale.com/

  • Ulster County Backyard Composter & Rain Barrel Sale
    Hosted by the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency 
    Pre-order deadline: May 19th, 2023
    Pick-up date: Saturday May 20th between 9 AM – 1 PM
    Location: UCRRA, 999 Flatbush Road Kingston NY 12401 
    More info or to order: https://ucrra.org/event/spring-compost-bin-sale-2023/ 

International Compost Awareness Week Social Media Toolkit

Are you looking to post social media for NYS Compost Awareness Week, but don't have the time to create it? The ICAW Committee and other volunteers have prepared a simple “plug and play” social media campaign that you can easily copy and paste into your Facebook and Instagram feeds, share through emails, or print to distribute at planned events and activities.

Be sure to tag #ICAW2023, #forhealthiersoilhealthierfood, #compost, #NYSCompostAwarenessWeek

Food Scraps Drop-Off Sites & Collection Services

If you are unable to compost at home, check out the map below to see if there are food scraps drop-off programs or collection services near you.

If you are interested in helping your community to collect and compost more food scraps, consider becoming a "Soil Maker" or a "Soil Supporter" by checking out MakeSoil.  

Home Composting Resources 

Are you interested in learning how to compost at home or sharing educational composting resources with others? Explore the links below:

Compost Videos & Music

NYS CAW Local Leaders

Are you interested in organizing a compost-related event for your community or helping to promote NYS Compost Awareness Week? If so, consider joining a network of NYS compost educators, community organizers, and local governments who are actively participating and supporting each other in this year's celebrations. Our first meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 14th, 2023 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. To join, email NYSAR3's Organics Council Chair, Jesse Kerns, at jekerns@syr.edu.

NYS Compost Awareness Week is a collaborative effort between the NYS Association for Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling (NYSAR3), the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the Syracuse University Center for Sustainable Community Solutions (CSCS).