Frequently Asked Questions

If it was once alive, you can compost it! In the backyard, stick to veggie peels; egg shells; 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. 

Once collected at the curb, food waste is taken to Black Earth Compost's composting facility in Groton, MA where is it processed into nutrient-rich finished compost, which can be returned to the soil as an alternative to chemical fertilizers. Food scraps brought to the BRC are transported to one of Vanguard Renewables anaerobic digestion facilities that turns the food waste into renewable energy and liquid fertilizer. 

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."

The provided curbside food waste cart has a locking lid that keeps odors in and animals out. If needed, a secondary lock is available by request, via the Black Earth Compost account page. You'll find that your black trash cart is actually less attractive to animals once you start separating your food waste. A properly managed backyard compost bin should also not attract animals as food waste material is generally mixed into layers of carbon rich leaves and nitrogen rich grass and garden trimmings. 

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 was 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. 

Sorting food waste doesn't have to require an elaborate set up. "I have a small bin for compost that attaches to my garbage can. It's so easy to access and empty that my three year old can do it!" says Liz K, Coachmen Lane. Even a basic bowl on the counter can collect meal prep scraps and after-dinner plate waste. Empty the bowl into your curbside cart or backyard compost pile after the meal. 

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.