Out of the Garbage and Into the Garden

Below the towers of Hudson Yards, a canopy awaits the morning sun in Hudson River Park.

Below the towers of Hudson Yards, a canopy awaits the morning sun in Hudson River Park.

David Loewenguth arrives to the compost yard around 7:30 AM to begin prepping for the day ahead.

David Loewenguth arrives to the compost yard around 7:30 AM to begin prepping for the day ahead.

As part of his daily routine, h e tends to a nearby garden.

As part of his daily routine, h e tends to a nearby garden.

Since its establishment in 1998 the park has become a safe haven for many different city explorers.

Since its establishment in 1998 the park has become a safe haven for many different city explorers.

As he is working, David spots a park goer who has volunteered at the center before and stops to say hello.

As he is working, David spots a park goer who has volunteered at the center before and stops to say hello.

Portrait of David Lowenguth outside a storage container.

Portrait of David Lowenguth outside a storage container.

Each year the park attracts some 17 million visitors along its 4 mile stretch of Manhattan's West side.

Each year the park attracts some 17 million visitors along its 4 mile stretch of Manhattan's West side.

Once organic waste has been collected from throughout the park, David and a volunteer weigh each bin. This bin weighs in at just over 100 lbs.

Once organic waste has been collected from throughout the park, David and a volunteer weigh each bin. This bin weighs in at just over 100 lbs.

While David works, a helicopter lands nearby. Due to his own concerns about pollutants from the nextdoor heliport and road, David recently stopped planting vegetables in the compost yard garden.

While David works, a helicopter lands nearby. Due to his own concerns about pollutants from the nextdoor heliport and road, David recently stopped planting vegetables in the compost yard garden.

David pulls a plastic bag from an intake bin. To prevent plastics and other non-organics from entering the compost, each bin must be sorted through by hand.

David pulls a plastic bag from an intake bin. To prevent plastics and other non-organics from entering the compost, each bin must be sorted through by hand.

Inside an Earth Flow container system, an auger churns the food scraps together with wood chips and dead leaves from the park. This mixing accelerates the decomposition process while gradually moving older compost to the back of the container. On a c

Inside an Earth Flow container system, an auger churns the food scraps together with wood chips and dead leaves from the park. This mixing accelerates the decomposition process while gradually moving older compost to the back of the container. On a colder day, as the auger spins steam created by the heat of the microorganisms is released.

David pulls weeds along the bike path nearby. Rain or shine you can find David processing compost, gardening, or tending to the areas around the compost yard.

David pulls weeds along the bike path nearby. Rain or shine you can find David processing compost, gardening, or tending to the areas around the compost yard.

After many weeks, material finally makes it to back of the container and can be set out in large piles to cure.

After many weeks, material finally makes it to back of the container and can be set out in large piles to cure.

In the southern area of the park, the Tribeca Native Boardwalk is home to indigenous Eastern red cedars surrounded by strands of native 'seaside' grasses.

In the southern area of the park, the Tribeca Native Boardwalk is home to indigenous Eastern red cedars surrounded by strands of native 'seaside' grasses.

Having been cured and screened for larger wood chips, the nutrient rich compost is reintegrated into the park.

Having been cured and screened for larger wood chips, the nutrient rich compost is reintegrated into the park.

Out of the Garbage and Into the Garden (May 2025)

Each year New York City feeds nearly 14 million tons of garbage to landfills, about the same weight as 38 Empire State buildings. Because roughly a third of the city's residential waste contains compostables, a widespread composting mandate was launched in October of 2024. However, building fines for those who did not comply were paused only weeks after they began this April due to complaints and confusion surrounding the new rules.

This push for composting is not new to everyone though. Meet David, a compost guru who leads Hudson River Park's Community Compost Program. Since 2018, with support from volunteers and other staff, he has helped the park divert over 600,000 Ibs of organic waste. Not only has the community program enabled the park to offset CO2 emissions and costs associated with purchasing soil and fertilizer, it has also offered a chance for the nearby community to actively contribute to the health of this shoreline oasis. From food scrap drop off to garden dispersal the composting process helps sustain the park so many have come to love.