Food Waste Drop-Off

District residents can now drop off food waste to be composted at designated Farmers Markets, one in each of the District's eight wards, free of charge on Saturdays. The food waste will be taken to a local composting facility where it will be turned into compost, a soil amendment. Come visit us at one of our farmers market locations and ask our compost experts for more information!

Where Can I Participate?

There will be a total of eight food waste drop-off locations with one site in each ward. The program will be established at a Saturday farmers market.

Ward	Farmers Market Name	Address	Program Launch Date	Drop-Off Times
1	Columbia Heights Farmers Market	14th and Kenyon St. NW	May 13, 2017	9 am – 1 pm
2	Glover Park Burleith Farmers Market	34th and Wisconsin Ave. NW	May 13, 2017	9 am – 1 pm
3	University of the District of Columbia	4340 Connecticut Ave. NW	May 20, 2017	9 am – 1 pm
4	14th and Kennedy Farmers Market	14th and Kennedy St., NW	May 13, 2017	9 am – 1 pm
5	Brookland Farmers Market	716 Monroe St NE	May 13, 2017	9 am – 1 pm
6	Eastern Market (in front of Rumsey Pool)	635 North Carolina Ave. SE	April 22, 2017	9 am – 1 pm
7	Parkside-Kenilworth Farmers Market	750 Parkside NE	May 20, 2017	9 am – 1 pm
8	Ward 8 Farmers Market	3200 6th St. SE	June 17, 2017	10 am – 2 pm

Complete List of Items Accepted in the Food Waste Drop-Off Program

Materials Accepted	Materials Not Accepted
Fruit, vegetable scraps, and salad Coffee grounds, paper tea bags, and loose tea Bread, grains, cereals, rice, and pasta Egg shells Nutshells Corncobs Stale beans, flour, and spices Cut or dried flowers	Milk, cheese, or other dairy products Meat or Fish scraps and bones Fats, grease, oil, or oily foods Plastic bags, wraps or film Coated or Uncoated Paper and Cardboard (Paper bags, plates, bowls) Non-compostable materials like plastic, metals, foil, glass, or styrofoam Pet refuse Diseased or insect-infested houseplants and soil Biodegradable or compostable plastics & packaging

How to Bring Your Food Waste to the Market

Acceptable food scraps and organic materials can be collected in covered plastic containers, paper or plastic bags. Please keep in mind that plastic bags are NOT recyclable and ends up in the trash. We recommend rinsing plastic containers holding the food waste within each use and lining the bottom with shredded newspapers for odor control. Another tip in controlling odors over the week is to consider storing your food scraps contained in either a sealed bag or plastic container in the freezer or refrigerator.

Can Businesses Drop-off Materials to Compost?

No. Commercial food scraps are not accepted as the program is available strictly to District residents. Businesses should contact a local hauler who can handle commercial organic waste.

How Else Can I Get Involved in Composting?

The Department of Parks and Recreations has a Community Compost Cooperative Network where residents can receive an hour long training and participate in the community compost program. For more information please visit (https://dpr.dc.gov/service/community-compost-cooperative-network).