The Lower East Side Ecology Center Email Format
Environmental ServicesNew York, United States11-50 Employees
The Lower East Side Ecology Center, also known as Outstanding Renewal Enterprise, Inc., is a New York City–based organization in the environmental services sector that began in 1987 as an early promoter of community-based recycling and composting. It started with innovative recycling drop-off centers and has since expanded to offer free public compost collection and education, electronic waste recycling, stewardship of public open spaces, and environmental education programs. The organization focuses on providing New Yorkers with opportunities to learn about local environmental issues and to participate in addressing them. Operating in New York City, the center serves neighborhoods including the Lower East Side, East Village, and Chinatown. It has pursued expansion efforts in recent years, including plans announced in 2026 to construct a one-acre Environmental Education Center in East River Park. The center is a relatively small entity within the environmental services field, with a mission rooted in community learning and stewardship.