New Bedford Wants You to Recycle Your Home Food Waste

Massachusetts communities are increasingly encouraging residents to recycle home food waste. The Town of Dartmouth recently announced a new curbside food scrap collection program to reduce household waste.

"The Town of Dartmouth and the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District are partnering with Black Earth Compost to facilitate a new curbside food scrap collection program that can help reduce household waste by up to 30 percent," the town's website says.

According to the site, "Residents who chose to participate will pay a fee for this curbside service."

The town says, "Black Earth Compost will collect fruit peels, bones, and other food scraps and turn it into nutrient-rich compost that can be used to grow more food instead of sending it for disposal to the Crapo Hill Landfill."

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The fee for weekly pickup is $20.99 a month or $114.99 for six months of service. The charge for every pickup every other week is $16.99 per month or $89.99 for six months of pick-up service.

The service is currently available in some South Dartmouth neighborhoods but is expected to expand to other areas of the town.

Find out more on the Town of Dartmouth website.

New Bedford has a food waste drop-off program whereby residents are encouraged to drop off food waste at the City of New Bedford's Recycling Center at 1103 Shawmut Avenue.

The City's website says the center accepts "all unpackaged food, bones, seafood shells, lobster shells, and coffee grounds." This includes fruits, vegetables, meats, peels, chicken bones, eggshells, dairy, bread, grains, and baked goods.

Canned foods and other items are not accepted.

Waste must be collected in a BPI-certified compostable bag. Plastic bags are not accepted.

For more information and hours of operation, visit the Recycling Center website.

Massachusetts already requires restaurants and large institutions to recycle food scrap waste.