What began as a bold pilot envisioned by the Department of Sanitation NYC (DSNY) has grown into a proven, scalable solution for cities and campuses across the U.S.
Bigbelly’s Smart Compost System is transforming the way food waste is collected—from New York City streets to Arlington, Virginia neighborhoods and beyond.
A Smart Composting Bin in New York City during its pilot phase.
The NYC Breakthrough
- Developed with DSNY as a smart, secure and equitable compost collection solution
- App-based access to eliminate contamination
- Enclosed, rat-proof bins for cleaner streets
- Self promoting program – graphics that provides a 2D code link to the app that anyone can use and what materials can be deposited
- DSNY’s 400+ bins are now opened over a million times annually
CBS news reporter Natalie Brand discusses Bigbelly Smart Composting with Jeff Satwicz in Arlington.
A Local Success Story: Arlington, VA
- First full deployment outside NYC gaining national media attention
- Expanded from 14 to more bins due to community enthusiasm
- Focused on high-density housing: apartments and condos
- Data insights help adjust collection routes in real time
Jeff Satwicz alongside Arlington’s compost being processed at its local site.
A Model for What’s Next
- Universities and colleges
- Mid-sized cities like New Haven, CT and Laurel, MD
- Scalable for anywhere composting
