Compost

Food Waste Pick Up Services
Places to Drop Off Food Waste to be Composted
Learn How to Compost
Carbon Recovery for Composting
Places to Pick Up Finished Compost

Food Waste Pick Up Services

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Places to Drop Off Food Waste to be Composted

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DPR Community Compost Cooperative Network

The DC Parks and Recreation (DPR) Community Compost Cooperative Network uses new critter proof and smell proof compost bins designed by Urban Farm Plans to allow trained community members to compost food scraps with garden waste from DPR and partner DPR gardens to responsibly create high quality compost. To join each member must take an hour training and help process compost 1-hour a month.

Find the nearest compost cooperative to join to compost your food scraps.

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DPW Food Waste Drop-Off

Residents are able to drop off food waste for free at designated farmers’ markets in all eight city wards (only three stay active over winter).

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Mom’s Organic Recycling Center

Accepts daily: Bar Wrappers, Batteries, Brita Filters, Cell Phones, Food Waste, Drink Pouches, Food Squeeze Pouches, Glasses, Health and Beauty Packaging, Natural Cork, Plastic, Shoes, Snack Bags
Annual Drives: Denim, Holiday Lights

Learn How to Compost

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Courses

DPR Urban Master Composter Certificate Course

Neighborhood Soil Rebuilders Composter Training Program

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Organizations that Host Individual Workshops

Common Good City Farm

Cultivate the City

DC Parks and Rec Urban Garden Division

Eco City Farms

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Rooting DC

UDC Causes

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Guides

ILSR Guide to Community Composting

Sierra Club DC Commercial Composting Guide

Carbon Recovery for Composting

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An important part of food recovery in DC is composting. In the last few years community composting initiatives have gained momentum throughout DC as communities, community gardens, and schools are figuring out ways to compost their food scraps with different kinds of carbon sources around the city, such as garden waste, fall leaves, wood chips, shredded paper, etc. Unfortunately, finding enough carbon to properly mix with food scraps has been a challenge.

If you have extra carbon sources to donate, if you’re looking for carbon sources for your compost or carbon spot, or if you are looking for a place to compost, please explore the links below.

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