(Washington, DC) - In its latest effort to expand the infrastructure required to support food waste composting in the District, the Department of Public Works (DPW) announces the installation of 30 food waste ‘Smart Bins’ across the District. These smart bins will provide residents with convenient, 24/7 drop-off locations for food scraps.
“Nationally, one-third of all food produced is being thrown away,” says DPW Director Timothy Spriggs. “By installing Food Waste Smart Bins across the District, DPW is expanding access to food waste diversion opportunities for all District residents, an important step in helping to divert 80% of waste from disposal to achieve DC’s Zero Waste goals.”
The Food Waste Smart Bins’ “rodent-proof” design keeps food scraps out of the reach of rats or other rodents and is expected to ultimately help reduce the populations of these pests. Equipped with sensors that monitor fullness levels, the Food Waste Smart Bins enable DPW to optimize collection schedules, reducing unnecessary pickups and vehicle emissions.
DC residents assisted DPW in deciding where to site the 30 new Smart Bins. DPW hosted community engagement meetings in all eight wards to explain the program details and to receive feedback on where residents thought the Smart Bins should be installed in their community. DPW also helped to address any community concerns about the program. Locations were ultimately chosen to ensure accessibility for all residents, particularly those residing in multi-family properties, such as apartment buildings and condominiums.
Under Mayor Bowser’s administration, Washington, DC has emerged as a leader in sustainability, from green building standards to clean energy initiatives. The Food Waste Smart Bins further this commitment by expanding opportunities to divert wasted food from disposal and recycle it into compost.
The Food Waste Smart Bin program builds upon two existing residential Compost DC initiatives:
- Food Waste Drop-Off Sites: Since 2017, District residents have been able to drop off food waste to be composted by bringing it to one of twelve staffed drop-offs located at weekend designated farmers markets and community sites in all eight wards. To find the nearest staffed Food Waste Drop-Off site or Smart Bin location nearest you, visit www.zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff.
- Food Waste Collection: Building on the success of DPW’s one-year Curbside Composting Pilot Program, the Compost DC: Food Waste Collection program offers weekly at-home organic waste collection for 9,000 DPW-serviced single-family households. Mayor Bowser’s FY 25 budget includes $3 million to continue the program for all households that participated in the Pilot Program and opted to continue receiving services and maintain the number of participants at 9,000 households. Residents who live in a DPW-serviced single-family home can join the waitlist when the Food Waste Collection program expands at surveymonkey.com/r/CompostDCInterest.
Organic materials collected as part of either of DPW’s Compost DC programs are processed into compost, a nutrient-rich soil amendment, used by farmers, landscapers, and gardeners, and sold at local hardware stores and garden centers. By composting food and yard waste from DC residents, DPW is directly supporting the local circular economy. For more information on smart bin locations, staffed Food Waste Drop-Off sites, and composting guidelines, visit www.zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff.