Composting Food Waste

Organic materials, including food scraps, contribute approximately 30% of the solid waste stream. Not only is it heavy, it is often wet and takes more energy to incinerate. By keeping organic materials out of your trash bag, the annual solid waste tonnage that is hauled away is decreased - ultimately saving you money.

Composting is easy and one of the best things you can do for your garden because it produces nutrient-rich soil that will feed your plants and also helps retain moisture in the ground, so less watering in the summer. Guides to help you get started at home can be found below.

If your thumb is brown, you can still compost. To help Weston residents reduce what they put in the trash bag and get acquainted with composting, a pilot program has been initiated at the Transfer Station. Look for green bins near the trash hoppers to dispose of your fruit and vegetable scraps (no stickers or ties) and a lot more, such as:

• coffee grounds and filters
• compostable tableware and coffee pods (must be BPI or CMA certified)
• cookies, cake and candy
• cooking oils and grease (leave jars next to bin)
• dairy (cheese, yogurt, butter etc.)
• eggs and eggshells
• food-soiled napkins and paper towels (no bodily fluids or cleaning chemicals)
• meat and seafood, raw or cooked (including bones and shells)
• non-synthetic tea bags (staple is ok)
• nut and coconut shells
• pasta, grains and bread
• toothpicks, popsicle sticks, chopsticks, small wood produce containers
• wine corks

Most kitchen compost pails have carbon filters to eliminate odors and are small enough to keep under the sink. If you use one with a liner, make sure the liners are BPI certified or CMA approved so as not to ruin the compost batch. Please do not use produce bags or other plastic bags, as these are not compostable. In more urban areas with weekly compost pick-up, people will have a bag in their freezer to keep compost until collection day.

If you are an avid composter at home, you already know that composting greatly increases volume in your trash bag (you['re throwing away a lot less). And, it is a tremendous benefit to your garden. The program at the Transfer Station is a commercial composter, which means additional benefits to home composters!

If you have a private hauler but are looking to increase your recycling efforts, a Recycle Only permit is available. This will get you access to all of the recycling opportunities at the Transfer Station, including yard waste, textiles, electronics, and more.