The city is proposing new rules that would require residents with yards to set aside yard waste like twigs, mown grass and leaves for composting on a designated recycling day. 

The mandatory yard waste compost program would go into effect starting in Queens later this year, followed by Brooklyn on Oct. 2, the Bronx and Staten Island on March 25, 2024 and Manhattan on Oct. 7, 2024, a Department of Sanitation notice released Monday says.

“For every successful organic waste diversion program in the United States, mandatory yard waste diversion has been the first required step and necessary prerequisite,” the notice says. “Yard waste is generated separately from other types of recyclable and non-recyclable waste — in the yard or garden rather than in the home. It is generally already segregated into separate containers or bags.” 

“Requiring mandatory separation of yard waste is therefore straightforward; residents need not change their behavior other than to set yard waste out on the designated recycling day,” it adds. 

The rules would be in effect from March 1 to July 31 and from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 each year, according to the notice. The department “intends to allow for a three-month education and warning period in each borough following the effective date of mandatory organics separation prior to the issuance of any summonses pursuant to this requirement,” the notice says.

DSNY will hold a virtual public hearing on the proposed rule at 10 a.m. on April 27, according to the notice.

News of the proposal came on the same day the department restarted curbside composting services in Queens. The city implemented the popular program in the borough back in October.

According to the city, the program diverted nearly 13 million pounds of organic waste in 12 weeks. 

During his State of the City address, Mayor Eric Adams announced that curbside composting would expand to all five boroughs by the end of 2024.