Food Waste Disposal

In many communities, food waste services help residents convert kitchen leftovers into useful, valuable compost that is not only nutrient-rich, but also replenishes the soil via a renewable energy source. Typically, food waste that is accepted into composting programs includes:

• Vegetable and fruit wastes
• Old bread, donuts, cookies, crackers, pizza crust, noodles
• Grains
• Coffee grounds, tea bags, filters
• Fruit or vegetable pulp from juicing
• Spices
• Outdated boxed foods from the pantry
• Egg shells
• Corn cobs and husks

In general it is not advisable to include the following food wastes for composting:

• Meat or meat waste, such as bones, fat, gristle, and skin
• Fish or fish waste
• Dairy products, such as cheese, butter, cottage cheese, yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream, etc.
• Grease and oils of any kind

These food wastes imbalance the nutrient-rich structure of other food waste and break down slowly.

According to a Guardian report, roughly 50 percent of all produce in the United States is thrown away—some 60 million tons (or $160 billion) worth of produce annually, an amount constituting “one third of all foodstuffs.” Wasted food is also the single biggest occupant in American landfills, the Environmental Protection Agency has found.

For proper disposal and composting of food waste, work with a waste facility that specifically handles and composts food waste, or request pricing and we will find one for you!