Dartmouth DPI Launches Pilot Waste Drop-off Program to Encourage Residents to Compost

Starting on Tuesday, June 18th, Dartmouth residents now have a better place for their banana peels, coffee grounds, meat, and moldy strawberries. The town has successfully launched a Pilot Food Waste Drop-off Program at the Dartmouth Transfer Station. The goal is to help residents reduce their waste and save money on orange SMART program trash bags by diverting food waste for composting.

What Can Be Dropped Off:

Residents can drop off all unpackaged food, bones, and coffee grounds. Accepted items include fruits, vegetables, peels, meat, chicken bones, seafood shells, eggshells, dairy, breads, grains, and baked goods. The food can be in any condition or past its expiration date. Unpackaged food can be loose or placed in BPI-certified compostable bags. More information on BPI certification can be found at bpiworld.org.

Program Benefits:

“About 20% of what residents dispose of is food waste,” said Timothy Barber, Director of the Town of Dartmouth’s Department of Public Works. “This program will help residents reduce waste at home, save money by using fewer orange SMART program trash bags, and keep food waste out of the Crapo Hill Landfill.”

Reducing the amount of waste sent to the landfill extends its life and postpones the need for more expensive waste management solutions in the future.

Program Details:

The Dartmouth Transfer Station, located at 976 Russells Mills Road, will accept food waste during the following hours:

Tuesday and Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
A transfer station permit is required to use the facility.

Starter Kits:

To encourage participation, 100 free starter kits are being distributed to SMART Program participants, while supplies last. Each kit includes a kitchen counter bin, a roll of compostable bags, and a 5-gallon bucket for transporting food waste to the transfer station.

Starter kits are now available at the Dartmouth Department of Public Works, 759 Russells Mills Road, from Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 3 PM and proof of residency is required. On advertised Saturdays, when the DPW office opens for residents to obtain 2024-2025 transfer station permits, starter kits will also be available, while supplies last.

How to Use Your Starter Kit:

Set Up: Place the kitchen bin in a convenient spot and line it with a BPI-certified compostable bag.

Collect Waste: Fill the bin with accepted materials.

Transfer: When the kitchen bin is almost full, tie off the compostable bag and place it in the 5-gallon bucket.

Drop Off: When the bucket is almost full, take it to the Dartmouth Transfer Station.
If you don’t have a starter kit, you can use any container such as a bowl, lined or unlined, to collect food waste. Any bucket can be used to transport the food waste to the transfer station. Extra rolls of compostable bags are available at the DPW, while supplies last.

What Is Not Accepted:

Packaged foods, plastic bags, produce stickers, cleaning chemicals, diapers, glass, pet waste, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, plates, cups, utensils, recycling, trash, and yard waste.

Composting Partner:

The food waste collected in the program is emptied weekly by Black Earth Compost, a partnering company. The waste is transformed into nutrient-rich soil amendment, which can be used to improve soil health, support gardening, and grow more food.

For more information, contact the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District at (508) 979-1493 or email Marissa at Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org.

By participating in this program, Dartmouth residents can play a vital role in reducing landfill waste and contributing to a healthier environment.