Cambridge Curbside Composting Resumes Monday, May 17

The City of Cambridge announces that the residential curbside composting program will resume on Monday, May 17, 2021.

Curbside compost is available to all residential buildings with city trash collection. Composting reduces trash going to landfills and converts food scraps into clean energy. Separating food waste from trash bins and placing it in curbside compost carts also helps manage rodents in the community because the locking green compost carts make it more difficult for rodents to access food.

The city provides curbside carts and indoor kitchen bins for composting. Residents who were previously composting are encouraged to continue doing so, and those who have never composted are encouraged to start. To learn how easy it is to get started, and to request free supplies, visit www.CambridgeMA.Gov/Compost.

“The curbside compost program is a key part of our waste reduction efforts,” said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “More than 30% of household trash is food waste; separating food waste from the trash helps fight climate change and manage increasing waste disposal costs.”

Citywide compost collection was suspended in March 2020 to comply with social distancing protocols which also required the Department of Public Works (DPW) to reduce the number of staff in trucks, further limiting capacity for curbside collection. Throughout the program’s suspension, however, the city’s compost drop-off sites continued to operate and diverted 500,000 pounds of food waste from landfills. Since citywide curbside compost collection began in 2018, Cambridge residents have helped the city divert more than 3,600 tons of food waste.

“Although we had to suspend separate compost collection, we want to thank residents for utilizing the city’s drop-off compost sites,” said Public Works Commissioner Owen O’Riordan. “We are excited to get back on track to reducing our trash and impact on climate change by resuming separate compost collection services on May 17.”

Residents can pick up a free roll of compost bags on the following dates, between 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at:
• May 10 - Danehy Park (New Street parking lot)
• May 11 - Moore Youth Center (12 Gilmore St)
• May 12 - Cambridge Public Works (147 Hampshire St front door)
• May 13 - Kennedy-Longfellow School (104 Fulkerson St)
• May 14 - Peabody School (across from 62 Haskell St; walk down roadway towards the school)

Compost bags may be purchased at these Cambridge stores or online.

To learn more about where your food waste goes after it’s collected, click here.