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After Big Reuse License the Queensbridge Site

NYC invested over $500,000 transforming this derelict site into an award-winning, custom-built community composting site run by Big Reuse. It was was designed with engineers in consultation with DEC and Con-Ed

It is a waste of City money to convert this site into a parking lot - which can be anywhere - given the upfront City investment in creating this community compost processing site

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Big Reuse benefits Parks and the Climate

Last year, Big Reuse’s Queensbridge community composting site:

Worked closely with Parks operations to compost over 300 tons of leaf and yard waste from western Queens Parks.
Returned over 700 yards of compost to Parks and Green Thumb.
Provided most of the compost to Queens Parks Horticulture for their most important planting projects.
Distributed compost to an additional 154 community groups, gardens, and schools.
Activated the site with worked with over 500 volunteers.
Partnered with 62 food scrap drop off sites at community gardens and other groups.
Provided compost and mulch that was applied to over 1,200 street trees with over 1,000 volunteers as part of the Big Reuse street tree care program.
Services based at the site reach over 20 city council districts in Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan and Queens.

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What Needs to be Moved to Construct Baby Queensbridge Park

Several shipping containers &

several vehicles

Big Reuse’s compost site does not impede improvements to Baby Queensbridge Park.

The Parks storage and vehicle parking currently in the Baby Queensbridge Park improvement footprint actively utilize less than 5,000 sq ft of space for sector maintenance.

There is a 22,000 sq ft Parks parking lot under Queensboro Bridge that is mainly used for staff parking that could be used for sector maintenance.

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Google Street View from 2018 on demonstrate that Parks’ existing parking lot next to the composting site is historically underutilized.

This parking lot could be used for District 1 and 2 vehicles and shipping containers as shown by architects in alternate plan.

Staff personal parking should not replace community composting.

July 2018

September 2022

September 2021

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There is space for both community composting and Parks Operations

Solution supported by AIANY & Center for Zero Waste Design

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Questions for Parks for Queensbridge Baby Park

We understand the bid set has not yet been issued for Queensbridge Baby Park, when is construction projected to begin?
How much space will Queensbridge Baby Park need for construction staging? Most city projects are staged on site.
District 1 & 2 operations have been operating for the last 6 years on the 5,000SF site. Can they move into the adjacent 22,000 SF parking lot?
Can Big Reuse at a minimum continue to operate until construction starts? Big Reuse was informed Feb 28, 2024 - 3 months ago - they would not receive renewal as they have for past 3 years. They need room to secure additional space to move vehicles and equipment.

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Big Reuse fully supports the creation of Baby Queensbridge Park and can adjust operations to support staging for construction of park.

There are solutions available that would benefit all:

Parks moves the District 1 & 2 shipping containers and vehicles to its existing parking lot - as supported by architects - does construction staging in park.
Parks moves the shipping containers and vehicles to its existing parking lot and Big Reuse makes space on site for construction staging.

There is broad public support for Big Reuse’s community composting site to remain. We hope to reach a solution that benefits all.

Solutions that Benefit All

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If Big Reuse’s Compost Site is Evicted, Parks Will Effectively Destroy Community Composting in Queens

Big Reuse does not have a replacement site and no place to move equipment or compost operations

Dec 2023 - DSNY stopped working on replacement site at Greenpoint facility - due to budget cuts, CSO tunnel work, DOB issues increased budget.
Jan 2024 - city budget cuts force layoff of 7 composting staff.
Feb 28, 2024 - Parks officially inform Big Reuse license would not longer be renewed in June 2024 after it had been renewed 3x before.
Big Reuse working to secure a replacement site.

Big Reuse agreed to compromise with Parks in 2022 because DSNY had promised to build another site - Big Reuse has always wanted to stated they wanted to stay at current Queensbridge site.
LIC and Queensbridge lose a community resource and get another parking lot / storage facility
Queens Horticulture, Greenthumb and 150 community organizations and gardens lose compost.
Western Queens Parks no longer able to compost leaf and yard waste
Parks destroys community composting in Queens
Parks ignores all input from Parks community input meetings, Community Boards, Council Members, other elected officials, community orgs, and 3,000 letters from residents.

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Council Members Support Big Reuse Staying

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20 Council Supporters

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"Big Reuse provides a critical resource by serving as one of the major community composting hubs in the city," said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez. "Evicting Big Reuse from its Queensbridge site will make the borough and the city less sustainable and lead to less compost fertilizing NYC greenspace. Closing Big Reuse's Queensbridge site will stifle our progress toward creating a more sustainable New York and undermine our commitment to a greener future."

“The expansion of New York City’s curbside organic waste program into all boroughs was a major jump forward for our city to meet its goal of sending zero waste to landfill by 2030, but it should not come at the expense of the community composting program," said Comptroller Brad Lander. “Organizations like Big Reuse go beyond organics collection by producing compost, which can be used to naturally fertilize our city’s parks and gardens. Fertilizer production emits more than global aviation and shipping combined; let’s do our part to divert those emissions."

Comptroller Brad Lander

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115 Community Organization Supporters Include:

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Community Board 2 Unanimous Letter of Support

“Community Board #2 supports BIG Reuse's continuing operation in their current location and believes that they provide a greater public benefit than would an expanded maintenance / parking area for DPR, which could be located elsewhere in western Queens. Given the funds, materials and labor that have already been invested in the site, it would be a profound waste of resources to demolish what they have created and force them to move, particularly when their mission is so aligned with that of an environmentally friendly and sustainable NYC Parks system.

At CB #2's last full Board Meeting on February 4, 2021, a motion was passed with 34 in favor of the motion; none opposed and no abstentions to provide a letter of support for a new long- term lease for BIG Reuse. We sincerely hope that the Parks Department will recognize the importance of this facility, as evidenced by the support of both CB #1 and CB #2, and modify their currently proposed site plan to allow them to remain.”

Community Board 1 Unanimous Letter of Support

“Following their proposed Capital improvement plans for Queensbridge Baby Park, NYC Parks held a community visioning session on January 28, 2021 where community members shared their ideas for the project. Overwhelmingly, we heard from individuals who want the BIg Reuse compost processing site to remain at its current location. The Community Understands it has been operating next to the Park for Many years.

The Parks Department is attempting to relocate the compost site, stating they require the land for their operations equipment. The residents understand that this cost could be more by having to find another location for the Parks Department parking. However, uprooting the BIG Reuse would be a devastating blow to NYC’s composting infrastructure which has been badly bruised since the pandemic.

Due to the investments made in this location and the positive national acclaim this site should be protected, displacing them is not the answer. The two uses can and should be accommodated. Their site brings in 1000 volunteers a year and hundreds of tour participants. Once Parks turns their compost site into operations it will no longer be accessible to the public. Our community desired more accessible space not less.”

Community Boards 1 & 2 Strongly Support Big Reuse Staying

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Over 3,000 People Have Signed a Petition to Save Big Reuse's Queensbridge Composting Site

“I urge you to reverse this decision and allow Big Reuse’s award-winning composting operation to remain on their Queensbridge composting site to continue providing free compost to Parks, community gardens and street tree care for NYC residents while diverting millions of pounds of New Yorkers' and Parks' organic waste from landfills.”

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Media Coverage

NYC Parks Department challenged over decade-old Queens compost site - CB S

NYC Parks Department Wants to Pave Paradise and Put Up a Parking Lot - NRDC

Big Reuse Hosts Earth Day Event to Save Beloved Composting Site from Eviction - Queens Gazette

Parks Department Throws Out Long Island City Compost Center - The City

Queens electeds look to stop eviction of composting site - Queens Eagle

Community rallies to preserve Queensbridge composting as Parks Dept. eviction looms - LIC Post

LIC Rallies Around Queensbridge Composting Site - Queens Ledger

Activists hope to save compost site - Queens Chronicle

LIC Rallies Around Queensbridge Composting Site

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