NYC Compost

BigBelly Solar

About this app

NYC Smart Compost app enables finding and unlocking compost drop-off at curbside bins located in the NYC area, it also allows users to learn information about the composting program, details on how to use the curbside bins, what types of food/materials can be composted with this program, and report issues with the curbside bins.

Ratings and reviews

The app's performance may vary with the NFC features of your phone, but for me it seems to know when I'm standing in front of a bin, and it lets me unlock the bin. The one thing it doesn't do at the moment is recognize when it has succeeded in unlocking the bin. There's no visual or audio feedback from the bin itself (not even a click), so you have to just try the door and if it doesn't work press "unlock" on the app again.

It works, but... I had to align the GPS to where the app thinks the bin is before pressing the "unlock bin" button. This location was around 100 feet away down the block. Once I was there, I could unlock the bin. I then had to run to the bin quickly before the bin locked again. As other users have pointed out, relaxing the tight GPS range a little bit could go a long way in solving this particular problem.

Love that the city is expanding this program, but it is failing more than android users with this app. It worked for the first few weeks, and as of the last month has been unable to unlock any bins. Having an app be the only way to unlock the bins in the first place is inefficient, and also assumes everyone has smartphones. Clearly even if you do, it doesnt serve its purpose either! Please fix this app asap or provide alternatives for unlocking before this program is rendered useless, thank you!

What's new

Fix issue unlocking Bins when no data services are available