Bedford Expands Curbside Food Waste Collection Town-Wide Starting December 1, 2025
Bedford DPW is excited to announce the launch of its expanded curbside food waste collection program, beginning December 1, 2025. This initiative builds on the success of a six-month pilot program and is supported by a generous grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), which will allow residents to subscribe to food waste collection service, on the same day as trash and recycling pickup, at a reduced cost.
During the pilot program residents who opted into food waste collection successfully diverted an average of 9.51 pounds of food waste per household per week from their trash, a promising indicator of the program’s environmental potential. This sorting resulted in a measurable reduction in trash disposal costs - approximately $25 per year per household - while supporting Bedford's climate goals by reducing reliance on waste incineration.
In partnership with Black Earth Compost, the Town has entered a preferred vendor agreement to offer curbside food waste collection service across all of Bedford’s municipal service area. The expansion aims to serve up to 650 new households town-wide, bringing our total food waste participation to 20% of eligible households. Compost collection service in Bedford will also now occur on the same day as curbside trash and recycling collection, streamlining the collection process.
Thanks to this public-private partnership with Black Earth Compost and a $20,000 Sustainable Materials Recovery Grant (SMRP) from MassDEP, the Town is able to offer service at lower than market rate and provide a $20 annual rebate to eligible subscribers.
Cost to Participants
The negotiated 6-month rate for subscribers is $80.99 or less than the cost of 1-2 overflow trash bags each week. Weekly and bi-weekly plans are available. New and renewing subscribers are also eligible for a $20 rebate, paid as a credit on your water & sewer utility bill.
Let's reach 1000 households! Bedford currently has 390 active subscribers. When the Town reaches 1000 subscribers, the subscription rate drops to $69.99 for everyone at the next renewal, further reducing the price for all.
Eligibility
Bedford households with municipal collection services are eligible to participate, including apartments and condo homes with up to four units per building. Bedford residents in multi-unit complexes with private collection services are not eligible.
How to Enroll
Sign up for collection service directly through the Black Earth Compost website at www.blackearthcompost.com.
New subscribers receive a free starter kit that includes:
- A 12-gallon green wheeled curbside cart
- A countertop food scrap collection container
- A supply of compostable liners for both
Starter kits will be delivered weekly on a rolling basis by DPW staff. Wheeled carts remain the property of the Town and must be returned if service is discontinued.
Why Composting Matters
Even small households generate food waste — from plate scraps to coffee grounds. Composting keeps this material out of landfills and incinerators, where it produces harmful methane gas, and instead transforms it into valuable compost that not only feeds the soil but can also reduce stormwater runoff and erosion. The State has identified food waste as a priority material in the most recent Solid Waste Master Plan and is currently exploring whether to ban disposal of residential food waste as early as 2030.
Other Options
For those who prefer a more traditional backyard approach, the DPW offers subsidized outdoor compost bin kits for $45 each. Countertop collection bins are available for $15 each. Purchase at the DPW Building, 314 Great Road.
Free drop-off food waste service is also available at the Bedford Recycling Center, to all Bedford residents, not just those with municipal curbside service. Interested residents are asked to pre-register on the Town website https://www.bedfordma.gov/FormCenter/DPW-26/Food-Waste-Dropoff-Pilot-Program-Interes-99
Frequently Asked Questions:
What can I compost?
If it was once alive, you can compost it! In the backyard, stick to veggie peels; eggshells; avocado pits; coffee grounds, filters and tea bag; paper towels, napkins and toilet paper tubes; and animal bedding from chickens and guinea pigs. For curbside and drop off programs, you may also add after-dinner plate waste, including cheese and sauces; meat scraps, bones & shells; fruit rinds; and BPI or OK Compost certified compostable single use items. For more information and a full list of frequently asked questions, visit the Bedford DPW Food Waste Program page at https://www.bedfordma.gov/484/Food-Waste-Programs
I don't generate that much food waste. Is it still worth it to participate?
Yes! On average, each household discards 8-11 pounds of compostable material every week. Even a small household has some amount of food scraps and plate waste. Those small amounts can really add up! "I was surprised at how much less actual trash we had once we started composting." says Dunster Road resident Erin D., who uses the curbside program. "We rarely fill our trash can anymore since it doesn't have food scraps in it."
I don't like smells in the house. Won't sorting my food waste stink?
This is a common concern; however, food waste sorted from the trash really doesn't smell any differently than food waste mixed into the trash. You can further reduce food smells by pouring liquids down the drain first or emptying your compost often. "An empty Bedford Farms ice cream tub works great to store food waste with a tight-fitting lid! I put it into the fridge every night and dump it into a brown bag in my Black Earth bin once or twice a week. No smells!" says Renu B., Hartford Street.
I use a garbage disposal already. Isn't that the same?
While using a garbage disposal may seem like a convenient alternative, it's not the best for managing food waste. Here's why: Everything that is sent down the drain increases the flow in Bedford's' sewer system. Food scraps in the sewer are then transported to wastewater treatment plants where they contribute to an overabundance of organic material and increase the cost and energy needed to treat the water. Running the disposal also requires water at the tap - water that you pay for with your water utility bill. Composting food waste instead could potentially reduce your water demand by 2,000 gallons per year.