Please consider making a tax deductible donation to help the Bedford Food Bank fight food insecurity in our community.

https://unipaygold.unibank.com/CustomerInfo.aspx?Customerid=2791

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is pleased to announce the Town of Bedford’s 2026 Annual Paving Program. This annual initiative supports the Town’s ongoing efforts to maintain and improve roadway conditions, enhance public safety, and extend the lifespan of local infrastructure.

Residents can access the most current information regarding the program, including project schedules, affected roadways, and construction updates, by visiting the Town’s dedicated paving program webpage at: https://www.bedfordma.gov/829/Annual-Paving-Program Exact paving schedules are not yet known. Direct abutters will receive hand delivered notice before works is set to begin. The general public will be able to view this information on the paving website as soon as it's available to our staff. 

Residents with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the DPW by email at paving@bedfordma.gov or by phone at (781) 275-7605. Please note that the paving program webpage will serve as the primary source of up-to-date information, and the details posted there reflect the most current updates available to staff.

The DPW also reminds residents that any work impacting the Town’s right-of-way, including driveway repairs or replacements, as well as underground utility connections, must be completed prior to roadway paving. Newly paved roads are subject to a five-year moratorium on excavation, making advance planning essential.

Additional information about right-of-way work and moratorium requirements is available on the paving program webpage or by contacting the Engineering Department at paving@bedfordma.gov.

The Town appreciates residents’ cooperation and patience during construction activities and looks forward to completing another successful paving season.

Contact: Department of Public Workspaving@bedfordma.gov (781) 275-7605

Bedford’s annual Pole Capping event will be taking place on Saturday, April 11, 2026 beginning at 10:30 a.m. The location of the event is Willson Park (located at the intersection of The Great Road/Concord Road/North Road), with a procession of Minutemen proceeding and following the activities.  

On April 11^th, for the safety of the public, The Great Road will be closed to traffic between Willson Park and Springs/South Road from approximately 10:15 a.m. to noon. Traffic will be detoured around the event. No parking will be allowed between 1AM-Noon on The Great Road between the South/Springs Road intersection and the Great Road and Concord/North Road intersection. Vehicles parked in that area during the parking ban will be subject to removal via towing. Please plan accordingly. 

The March 9, 2026 edition of the Town Manager's Report is now available. 

Inside you will find news and information about:

- Annual Town Election and Annual Town Meeting

- Department and Committee Surveys

- Strategy Working Sessions 

Along with employee updates, volunteer opportunities, community events and more!

Join the Town's Curbside Food Waste Program and make a positive impact on your home and the environment!

The Town is proud to partner with Black Earth Compost to offer residents an easy, convenient way to recycle food scraps right from the curbside. This public-private partnership helps reduce waste while supporting sustainable practices.

Service is available for a little as $11.99 per month - less than the cost of just 1-2 weekly overflow trash bags. By participating, you'll save space in your trash cart, spend less on overflow bags and reduce odors that attract rodents and other animals. Even better, keeping food waste out of the trash is more environmentally friendly that sending it to incineration with regular household trash.

Residents who sign up receive a free starter kit, including a green curbside cart, a countertop collection bin and liners for both. In addition, participants are eligible for up to $20 in annual utility rebates on their water bill. 

For a limited time, new subscribers can use code EARTHDAY2026 to receive 20% off their first invoice, including subscription fees.

Sign up today at www.blackearthcompost.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 2, 2026

From Scraps to Impact: How Bedford Is Diverting Over 222,000 Pounds of Food Waste Each Year—One Small Change at a Time

Bedford, MA – Small actions taken at home can lead to big results for the entire community. In Bedford, hundreds of residents are proving that separating food scraps from the trash is a simple change that delivers powerful environmental benefits.

Through composting, Bedford households are reducing the amount of waste sent for incineration and transforming food scraps into a valuable resource. The Town of Bedford Department of Public Works (DPW) offers several programs to make participation easy, affordable, and accessible for all residents.

Curbside Composting: A Simple Change with Big Results

Bedford’s curbside food waste collection program is offered through a public-private partnership with Black Earth Compost, made possible by a generous grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).

Since the program launched on December 1, 2025, 60 new households have joined—bringing Bedford’s total to 433 participating households. On average, each household diverts 9.51 pounds of food waste from the trash. Together, Bedford residents are keeping an impressive 214,127 pounds of food waste out of the incinerator every year! 

And this is just the beginning. DPW’s goal is to reach 1,000 households, doubling Bedford’s collective impact.

Why Join?

Participating in curbside composting is easy and rewarding

• Weekly or bi-weekly curbside pickup of food scraps for less than the cost of 1 weekly overflow trash bag
• Free starter kit from DPW, including a curbside bin, countertop kitchen bin, and compostable liners
• $20 annual utility rebate for households that subscribe to the service

Every banana peel, coffee filter, and leftover meal adds up. When one household composts, it matters—but when hundreds do, the results are transformative. 

👉 Be part of the movement. Sign up for curbside service at: www.blackearthcompost.com

More Ways to Make an Impact

Curbside service isn’t the only option for diverting your food waste from the trash. DPW offers additional programs to meet residents where they are:

• Free food waste drop-off at the Bedford Recycling Center (BRC). Simply pre-register on the Town website so DPW can ensure there is space for everyone. 
• Subsidized backyard compost bins available for purchase at the DPW Building, 314 Great Road. $45 each. 

No matter the method, every pound of food waste diverted helps reduce trash volume and supports a more sustainable Bedford.

Call to Action

Give composting a try for just one month. That’s thirty days to see if sorting your food from the trash is worthwhile. 

It’s as easy as visiting www.blackearthcompost.com to select the month-to-month option - DPW will deliver your starter kit within 1-2 business days - and then scraping your after dinner plate waste or morning coffee grounds into the free counter top container. Empty this indoor container as often as needed in the free wheeled cart meant to keep outside next to your trash cart. On trash day, wheel your carts to the curbside for convenient pickup. 

We think you’ll find that your trash cart is lighter and less smelly than before, sorting your food waste is easier than you thought and that your household really does generate enough food waste to make a difference. 

Give it a shot - Try composting for one month!

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Waste Composting

Is composting difficult?Not at all. Most participants find that separating food scraps quickly becomes part of their daily routine, especially with a small countertop bin in the kitchen.

What food waste is accepted? What about other compostable items? If it once was alive - you can compost it! All food scraps can be composted, including fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, shells, dairy, bread, eggshells, and coffee grounds. Pet bedding from birds, guinea pigs or rabbits is also acceptable as well as hair and fur. Napkins and paper towels (without chemical cleaners) are accepted, too. See the full list here. 

Will composting smell or attract pests?Properly used bins with tight-fitting lids minimize odors and pests. Using compostable liners and keeping bins closed helps, and many residents store food scraps in the freezer until pickup day. 

What happens to the food waste?Food scraps collected at the curb are transported to Black Earth’s composting facility in Groton, MA where the material is processed and turned into nutrient-rich compost that improves soil and supports local agriculture.

One household’s choice to compost may seem small—but together, Bedford residents are proving that small changes add up to meaningful community-wide impact. DPW invites all residents to join the growing composting movement and help reach the next milestone.

From scraps to impact—your participation makes the difference.

The Parents Diversity Council and Bedford Youth and Family Services (BYFS) will be hosting the 4th Annual Pride Event on Sunday, June 8^th 2025 from 2PM-4PM at the Bedford Town Common. If you would like to host a table, volunteer, or help with setup/cleanup, please use the link below to sign up.

Parents Diversity Council: 4th Annual Bedford Pride Celebration

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mallory Fuller, Youth Services Coordinator, at mfuller@bedfordma.gov. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to break the silence and stigma surrounding mental health. In partnership with the Yellow Tulip Project and Emerson Hospital, the Bedford Youth & Family Services (YFS) Department planted a Hope Garden of 100 tulip bulbs in the rotary in front of Town Center back on October 28th. On May 5th YFS hosted a gathering to acknowledge that with the emergence of the tulips, hope blooms! The community was invited to gather at the Yellow Tulip Hope Garden and engage in kindness rock painting to foster connection and hope. Check out the rock painting event on Bedford TV’s YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/h7q2ewaPuoY?si=0jWNvMmbCqMzTxRl and for more information on the Yellow Tulip Project check out their website https://theyellowtulipproject.org/our-story/

For additional Mental Health resources please visit the Bedford Youth and Family Services website - https://www.bedfordma.gov/300/Bedford-Specific-Mental-Health-Resources