DC Food Waste Smart Bins Surpass Expectations by Collecting 50,000 Pounds in May

FY26 Budget: Grow DC to Expand Food Waste Collection Initiatives

(Washington, DC) – The Department of Public Works (DPW) public food waste smart bins collected nearly 50,000 pounds of compostable food waste in May. The food waste smart bins have collected nearly 120,000 pounds of food waste and food-soiled paper since their installation in late February, with each month outperforming the last. This marks a significant step forward in the District’s waste diversion efforts and the community’s growing demand for accessible food waste composting.

“This major sustainability milestone not only shows how far we’ve come, but also how much more we can achieve to divert waste from landfills and incinerators,” said Interim DPW Director Anthony Crispino. “The demand for convenient food waste drop-off options has been amazing. We’re seeing an incredible response from residents who are eager to do their part, and with new investments in the Mayor’s FY26 Budget: Grow DC, we’re excited to continue growing the program toward its full potential.”

The smart bins, which rolled out in late February 2025, quadrupled the access points to public composting across the District, from 12 to 43 food waste drop-off locations and elevated DC’s standing as a national leader in municipal composting. With 31 smart bins open 24/7, DC now operates the second largest food waste smart bin program in the country, surpassed only by New York City.

In addition to DPW’s Food Waste Drop Off Program, the agency also offers a residential food waste collection service, currently in its second year of operation. As part of her goal to divert 80 percent of the District’s waste away from landfills and incinerators, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s FY26 Budget: Grow DC provides $2.3 million to expand DPW’s weekly residential food waste collection from 9,000 households to 12,000 in FY26, with plans to expand further in future fiscal years. Learn more about the budget at budget.dc.gov.

Food waste has local and global impacts. Locally, food waste disposed of in unsecured trash carts in alleyways, supports and sustains the rodent problem near homes. By redirecting food waste to a secured, steel-enclosed food waste smart bin, combined with other strategic efforts, DPW can help the District mitigate rodents and other pests. Food waste collected through DPW’s food waste diversion programs is sent to a commercial composting facility in Maryland, which turns food and yard waste into a nutrient-rich soil for local farms and gardens.

For more information on DPW’s food waste reduction initiatives and where to drop off food waste for composting, visit zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff.

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Please email me directly if you’re interested in a personal demonstration of DC’s new smart food waste bins and learning more about DPW’s food waste initiatives.