Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Board

The Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Board (BkSWAB) is a volunteer citizens’ advisory board dedicated to helping our borough contribute to New York City's zero waste goals. Our monthly meetings are open to the public, and all are encouraged to join.

BkSWAB Updates

• Curbside Organics Collection / Curbside Composting is in Brooklyn (and city wide)! Check out DSNY's website for info. You can also find more information and tips on our Building Waste Management Info Sheet.

• Check out our YouTube Channel! 

• Did you miss our "Get Your Bins in Order" panel discussion on 10/12/23? You can watch the recording on YouTube, to learn how to successfully set up Curbside Composting in your multi-unit residential building. And check out our Residential Building Curbside Composting FAQs to learn more.

• BkSWAB's commitment to racial and environmental justice: We need to continue to break our silos and focus even more on the intersection of waste and environmental equity, justice and racism. We cannot solve environmental problems and climate change without addressing systemic racism. BkSWAB is committed to listening, reflecting, and discussing how we can be better allies to communities of color and how we can work to change the system where reform is long overdue. We welcome your suggestions and events to share, please email us. 

• Free Fridges are now mapped across the city - https://nycfridge.com/ 

• Reduce your waste: See our resource page for some things you can do now to take action and reduce waste. 

• Food scrap drop off sites can be found in a few places: 

  • The trusty #dropofftracker by @ahealthyblueprint remains the best resource for the variety of privately-run and volunteer-operated drop offs and #microhauling services, and details in the notes offer info about how each site operates. Find a list of these sites in the second tab of the spreadsheet at bit.ly/NYCdropofftracker, and also link to the map created by a @saveourcompost volunteer!

  • The NYC Department of Sanitation’s map at nyc.gov/dropfoodscraps. 

• Advocacy: Support #SaveOurCompost campaign on social media.

• Regular full board meetings are the first Monday of each month. That could change depending on holidays, check out the calendar below for the most current information!

If you would like to be added to our email list to receive notifications of upcoming meetings and events, please complete this form.

Calendar of Events

See below for the Brooklyn SWAB's monthly meeting, committee meetings, and other related waste-prevention events. 

Want to submit an event to the BkSWAB calendar? Add the event to your own calendar and invite swab.brooklyn@gmail.com. Our Executive Committee will review and approve appropriate submissions.