Brown trash bins waiting for curbside pick up are becoming a common site throughout the borough.

It is all a part of the Department of Sanitation's zero waste pilot program.

The designated brown bin allows the Departrment of Sanitation to collect food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste from homes and small buildings in selected neighborhoods.

After expanding in the beginning of October, the voluntary program is now available in several neighborhoods throughout Queens and they will add three more districts by the end of this month. 

According to DSNY, organic waste accounts for about 31 percent of all waste generated by residents in New York City.

"But the real benefit is thinking about our trash as really a treasure, compost can make the soil much healthier it is more or less nature's miracle grow," said DSNY Commissioner Kathryn Garcia.  

Currently DSNY  serves more than two million residents across the city with curbside organics service.

By the end of the year it will service 3.3 million. 

To find out if you can enroll in the zero waste program visit www.nyc.gov/DSNY