NYC Council passes bills to curb and compost dog waste
Photo credit: John McCarten/NYC Council Media Unit on Flickr
The New York City Council passed a package of bills Thursday that take aim at the proliferation of dog poop on city sidewalks and parks. Among them is a measure that would create a composting program that turns dog droppings into compost rather than ending up in landfills. The Safe and Clean Outdoor Ownership Practices (SCOOP) Act was created to address growing complaints about the notably unscooped piles that remained after the blizzard this past winter.
According to the Council, there has been a jump in 311 complaints about dog waste, which was particularly apparent after two major snow storms this winter. In 2026, there have been nearly 3,000 complaints so far, up about 10 percent from last year.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin initiated a plan that would outfit 1,200 public garbage cans with bags for dog waste. One bill outlines a strategy for placing signage in city parks reminding visitors of a $250 fine for not picking up after your pet.
One of the bills, introduced by Council Member Shahana Hanif, whose district includes Park Slope and Carroll Gardens, would create an education campaign to inform the public about pathogens like E. coli and roundworm that can be transmitted by dog waste. Results will be measured by the number of 311 calls complaining about dog poop.
“New Yorkers shouldn’t have to dodge dog waste on our sidewalks or worry about the health and environmental risks it poses,” Hanif said. “I’m proud that Intro 872-A has passed the council and that we’re taking a citywide, multilingual approach to educating dog owners about their responsibility to pick up after their pets. This is about keeping our sidewalks clean, our waterways safe, and our public spaces accessible to everyone.”
As the New York Times reported, the bills were passed in a unanimous vote, with the exception of a bill that would ask the Department of Parks and Recreation to partner with volunteers on a composting program (dog droppings can be rendered into a soil-friendly form effective in nonedible flower beds).
On that bill, four members abstained, including Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who expressed concerns that the program would give park workers the unwelcome task of “interfacing with the dog feces.”
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