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Composting in Newton
Join your neighbors in reducing waste. Start composting today and help us turn Newton into a composting city!
What is Composting?
Composting is the natural process of turning organic matter — like food scraps and yard waste — into nutrient-rich soil. Instead of sending waste to landfills, composting transforms it into a valuable resource for gardens, farms, and landscapes.
Key Benefits
25%
of Newton’s trash is compostable. With Massachusetts’s landfills almost at capacity, now is the time to start composting!
How to Compost
From curbside pickup with Black Earth to backyard and community options, there’s a composting solution to fit every lifestyle.
Green Newton is proud to partner with Black Earth Compost in Newton! Recycle your food scraps hassle-free — just collect your compostable waste in a 13 gallon or 4 gallon Black Earth bin, then pull the bin out on trash day.
Our partner Black Earth Compost offers a 4 gallon bin, perfect for smaller spaces. If your apartment building has a visible and accessible location for pick-ups, you should be able to compost with Black Earth Compost.
If you have outdoor space, backyard composting is a great way to convert food waste into nutrient-rich soil. It requires a compost bin or pile, regular turning, and a balance of green and brown materials to break down properly.
Not ready to compost at home? You can drop off your food scraps for free at four Black Earth Compost sites in Newton.
Note: The first three locations require registration to receive the lock combination.
- Albemarle Road, north bound, just past the baseball diamond
- War Memorial Circle, Newton City Hall, by the bike rack
- Wheeler Road, directly across from Oak Hill Middle School (130 Wheeler Rd) next to two Helpsy bins
- Newton’s Resource Recovery Center at 115 Rumford Ave. Two large, lift-top style carts are unlocked and available when the Center is open.
It’s a convenient way to test the waters and see how easy composting really is!
To register for access to the first three locations, visit the City of Newton’s composting page.
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, bones, and seafood
- Eggshells and dairy products
- Pasta, grains, and bread
- Cake, candy, and baked goods
- House plants and flowers
- …and more!
Mess-Free Composting
Black Earth handles the composting for you — no smells, no mess, no maintenance.
Easy Weekly Pickup
Your bin is collected right at the curb on your regular trash day — simple and seamless.
Accepts All Food Scraps (and More!)
Compost everything from fruit and veggie scraps to meat, dairy, and bones and even coffee filters, lint and more!
Flexible Plans & Bin Sizes
Choose weekly or bi-weekly pickup and the bin size that fits your household.
Get Free Finished Compost
Receive nutrient-rich compost each spring — completing the full circle.
Local & Sustainable
Waste stays local, enriching Massachusetts soils instead of landfills.
Easy Online Management
Manage your pickups, billing, and rewards through your online account.
Newton’s Composting Impact
1
Households are already composting with Black Earth
1
Tons of food waste were composted by Newton residents in 2024
1
Full garbage trucks were diverted from landfills in 2024
Ready to turn your food waste into nutrient-rich compost? Start composting with Black Earth!
Learn More About Composting
Check out additional resources about composting below.
Composting for a Greener Future: A Conversation with Black Earth’s CEO
Tune in to the Green Newton Exchange Podcast! In this episode we chat with Conor Miller, CEO of Black Earth Compost, about sustainability, composting, and the future of waste management
Composting Made Easy:
A Newton Resident’s Story
Watch how a Newton resident makes composting part of everyday life! This short video shows how easy Black Earth makes turning food scraps into nutrient-rich compost.
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