Tip of the Week: Composting Your Food Scraps Reduces Your Trash by Almost 30%

Posted on February 24, 2025 by Green Newton

According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, about 30% of the waste that we throw into the household trash is food scraps. By separating those scraps out and composting them, our trash that goes to the incinerator is reduced by 30%. It’s a huge impact on the environment for little work and little cost. In addition the food scraps that are composted, can be used to nourish the soil.

Sign up for Black Earth Curbside Pickup Service

An easy way to get started is to sign up for the City sponsored organics collection service, Black Earth. Collect your food scraps (meat and dairy are okay) in the 13 gallon cart and set it out at the curb on your regular trash day. With the use of compostable liners, the collection bin stays neat and clean. The cost is $59.99 for 6 months, with a free starter kit. Go to the Black Earth website to sign up.

Drop Off at a Free City Collection Bin

  1. Newton Resource Recovery Center, Rumford Avenue
  2. Albemarle Road, north bound, just past the baseball diamond
  3. War Memorial Circle, Newton City Hall, by the bike rack
  4. Wheeler Road, directly across from Oak Hill Middle School (130 Wheeler Rd) next to two Helpsy bins

To prevent the organics bins from being used as trash cans, they are kept locked. Anyone seeking to drop-off organics will need to complete a brief registration form one time to get the lock combination. The new bins are available all-year long and 24-hours a day. The current organics drop-off bins at Newton’s Resource Recovery Center will still be available and no registration is required. Check our website for the Center hours of operation.

Want to try composting at home?

Home composting can be as simple as dumping food scraps in a pile and letting bacteria and bugs go at them, or it can be as sophisticated as building layers of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ organic matter that are maintained to a precise temperature and humidity for fast decomposition. Either way, the finished compost is  great for your yard and great for the environment. Here are some great resources for home composting: