Yard debris, oily pizza boxes, and watermelon rinds. These things would end up in landfills in many cities. They are, nevertheless, the raw materials of something shockingly precious in New York: “black gold.”
Jennifer McDonnell, the New York City Department of Sanitation’s Deputy Commissioner for Solid Waste Management, stated, “We’re creating this fantastic compost that we can utilize all over the city and enhance soil health.”
Denali Water Solutions has long treated landscaper trash at the Staten Island Compost Facility, but it now also processes organic waste from homes. The plant receives 100 to 150 tons of organic material per day on average, and up to 250 tons during periods of significant leaf fall.
