City of Cambridge Celebrates 5 Years of Citywide Curbside Compost Program

This spring marks the five-year anniversary of the citywide curbside compost program. Since 2018, Cambridge residents have diverted more than 6,500 tons of food waste from the trash.

To celebrate the occasion, the Department of Public Works’ (DPW) Recycle Division has announced a new food waste drop-off waste site located across from 10 Education Circle in the North Point part of East Cambridge. Any resident may use this drop-off location to dispose of their food waste.

To encourage participation, DPW staff will be distributing kitchen compost bins at The Common at Cambridge Crossing, 320 Morgan Avenue on Monday, April 10, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Additionally, residents can request kitchen compost bins at www.CambridgeMA.Gov/Recycle.

All Cambridge residents are encouraged to participate in the citywide curbside compost program (or drop-off compost if the service isn’t available in your building yet). By keeping food out of the trash, we can:

• Control Rodents. Placing food into locking compost carts is better for controlling rodents than using trash carts;
• Reduce trash. We are running out of places to put our trash;
• Protect the climate. Food in the trash contributes to climate change.

Until the end of April, all residents who request a free kitchen compost bin will get a free reusable bag made from recycled plastic bottles. Residents can use kitchen compost bins for composting in their building or for taking food waste to one of six drop-off compost sites. For more information, visit CambridgeMA.Gov/Compost.

Photo: City of Cambridge Public Works staff celebrate the five-year anniversary of the city’s Curbside Compost Program.