NYC’s Iconic Compost Bin Gets a Stylish Kitchen Makeover for Home Use

New York City is home to many iconic symbols: the Statue of Liberty, Milton Glaser’s I ♥ NY logo, and yellow cabs. Less celebrated but equally recognizable are the city’s compost bins. These dirt-brown containers, distinguished by their bright orange clasps, roll out on recycling days filled with food scraps. In 2024, NYC distributed these large brown bins for free, though not every household received one before the sanitation department approved the use of any 55-gallon or smaller bin for composting.

From Curbside to Countertop: The Kitchen Compost Bin

Now, the city’s composting aesthetic has been scaled down for home use. OnlyNY, in partnership with the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY), has introduced a tabletop compost bin inspired by the curbside containers. Designed with an airtight lid and an eight-liter capacity, the bin aims to make home composting a simple and habitual practice.

The tabletop compost bin is currently available for presale at $48, with orders scheduled to ship by the end of June. Proceeds from its sales will directly support the city. OnlyNY has been a licensed partner of NYC since 2015.

A High-Design Approach to Composting

The tabletop compost bin is part of OnlyNY’s ongoing collaboration with the DSNY and belongs to the brand’s NYC collection, which also includes partnerships with NYC Parks, the City of New York, and the Department of Transportation.

Design and Reception

The bin’s printed graphics and typeface have garnered attention and praise on social media. Many users commended the design in replies to an X (formerly Twitter) post by the NYC Sanitation account, highlighting the bin’s cool factor.

"Composting is cool. Like, really cool. Don’t believe us? Check out this limited-edition #OnlyNY tabletop compost bin and the rest of their new compost collection."
— NYC Sanitation (@NYCSanitation), April 23, 2026

Users on social media praised the bin’s aesthetic. One person commented,

"Hate to be a font snob but that font is it. It’s the font. Commanding yet also kind of surprisingly casual."

The graphics and typeface were created by Micah Belamarich, co-founder and creative director of OnlyNY, and Zach Reyes, the brand’s lead designer. Belamarich explained the design inspiration in an email to Fast Company:

"The ‘New York City Composts’ type is a treated version of a typeface we have been using for over 10 years as part of our brand identity across logos and graphics. It draws inspiration from New York City PSA-style typography that we love, with an impactful, strong serif feel and tight kerning."

Another user on X described the bin and collection as,

"Such a good refresher for the eyes after that stupid palantir merch."

A third user added,

"I’m the target audience for this."