Section 16-308. Yard waste

a. Within eighteen months of the effective date
  of  this  chapter,  the  commissioner  shall  provide  for  the   source
  separation,  collection  and  composting  of  department-collected  yard
  waste, with the exception of yard waste generated by the  department  of
  parks and recreation, any other city agency that generates a substantial
  amount  of  yard waste, or any person under contract with the department
  of parks and recreation or  any  other  city  agency,  generated  within
  designated areas of the city in which a substantial amount of yard waste
  is  generated  from  October  15 to November 30 of each year, unless the
  generator otherwise provides for recycling or storage for composting  or
  mulching.  The  commissioner  may  construct  and  operate  one  or more
  composting facilities, or utilize the services of other facilities.
    b. Within thirty-six months of the effective date of this chapter, the
  commissioner shall provide for the  source  separation,  collection  and
  composting   of   department-collected   yard   waste  generated  within
  designated areas of the city in which a substantial amount of yard waste
  is generated from March 1 to July 31 and September 1 to November  30  of
  each  year,  unless  the  generator  otherwise provides for recycling or
  storage for composting or mulching. The commissioner may  construct  and
  operate  one  or  more composting facilities, or utilize the services of
  other facilities.
    c. Within eighteen months of the effective date of this  chapter,  the
  department  of  parks  and  recreation  or  any  other  city agency that
  generates a substantial amount of  yard  waste  shall  provide  for  the
  source  separation, collection and composting of yard waste generated by
  the department of parks and  recreation,  any  other  city  agency  that
  generates  a  substantial  amount  of  yard  waste,  or any person under
  contract with the department of parks and recreation or any  other  city
  agency.
    d.  Within  eighteen  months of the effective date of this chapter, no
  landfill, incinerator or resource recovery facility owned,  operated  or
  used  by  the department shall accept for final disposal from October 15
  to November 30 of each year truckloads primarily composed of yard waste,
  except that composted yard waste may  be  used  as  part  of  the  final
  vegetative cover for a department landfull.
    e.  Within thirty-six months of the effective date of this chapter, no
  landfill, incinerator or resource recovery facility owned,  operated  or
  used  by  the department shall accept for final disposal from March 1 to
  July 31 and September 1 to November 30 of each year truckloads primarily
  composed of yard waste, except that composted yard waste may be used  as
  part of the final vegetative cover for a department landfill.
    f.  All  city agencies responsible for the maintenance of public lands
  shall to the maximum extent practicable and feasible give preference  to
  the  use of compost materials derived from the city's solid waste in all
  land maintenance activities.
    g. Generators of yard waste, except those identified in subdivision  h
  of  this section, shall separate, tie, bundle, or place into paper bags,
  or rigid  containers,  in  accordance  with  rules  promulgated  by  the
  commissioner,  any  yard  waste set out for collection by the department
  pursuant to subdivision b of this section. The commissioner shall notify
  all residents in districts that receive yard  waste  collection  by  the
  department  of  such  pre-collection procedures, and undertake any other
  action necessary to effectuate the purposes of this subdivision.
    h. No person engaged in a business that generates  yard  waste,  shall
  leave such yard waste for collection by the department, or disperse such
  yard  waste  in  or  about  the  curb or street. Any person engaged in a
  business that generates yard waste shall  be  required  to  collect  and
  dispose of such yard waste at a permitted composting facility; provided,

  however,  that  if the department, by written order of the commissioner,
  determines that there is insufficient capacity at  permitted  composting
  facilities  within  the  city  of  New  York  or within ten miles of the
  borough  in  which  any such person generates yard waste, then such yard
  waste may be disposed of at  any  appropriately  permitted  solid  waste
  management facility.