Bloomberg Pushes New Scheme to 'Compost' Food

Despite the blowback received on some of his more controversial ideas, such as limiting the size of sodas, hiding tobacco products from view and encouraging bicycle riding, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is pressing ahead with his latest idea: composting food scraps.

"It's revolutionary for New York," Eric A. Goldstein of the environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council told The New York Times. "If successful, pretty soon there’ll be very little trash left for homeowners to put in their old garbage cans."

Editor’s Note: New 'Obamacare Survival Guide' Reveals Dangers Ahead for Your Healthcare

It would not be a first. Many other cities already are composting food, The Times reports, but New York has been seen as too big – and too vertical – for such a program to work. But despite historically low participation in mandatory recycling programs, pilot runs have shown some New Yorkers willing to give the new idea a try.

The initial program would be voluntary, likely becoming mandatory at a later date. Bloomberg leaves office at the end of the year, but two of the front-runners to replace him have embraced the idea and indicated a willingness to follow through on implementation.

During his State of the City address this year, Bloomberg described food waste as "New York City's final recycling frontier."

Special: Get the USS Reagan Cap for Summer – Special Offer