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Zero Waste

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Zero Waste

Weekend Food Waste Drop-off Events (12 events citywide)

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Next Date: 
Repeats every week 200 times.
Saturday, July 26, 2025 -
9:00am to 1:00pm


Location: 
Multiple locations citywide, see description
Details: 

Every weekend across the District, the DC Department of Public Works hosts Food Waste Drop-off Events that are open to the public.

DC residents are encouraged to bring their food waste and food-soiled paper from home to the events and drop off these materials to be composted locally. Events are held in all 8 wards and most are held on Saturdays, from 9am to 1pm, with some exceptions. Refer to the list below for the days, times, and addresses of each event.

Event Locations, Days & Times

Ward 1

Ward 2

Ward 3

Ward 4

Ward 5

Ward 6

Ward 7

Ward 8

Complete List of Items Accepted at Food Waste Drop-Off Events

Accepted Materials ✔️  

  • Fruits and vegetables, salad
  • Coffee grounds, paper coffee filters, loose tea, and tea bags made of paper and cotton (many modern tea bags are made of plastic, which are not compostable)
  • Foods cooked in fats and oils, prepared foods, leftovers
  • Moldy or expired foods
  • Meat and bones (cooked or raw)
  • Seafood, shellfish, fish, bivalves, and mollusks
  • Shells (e.g., crab shells, oyster shells, clamshells, and mussel shells)
  • Dairy products (including spoiled dairy products)
  • Eggs and eggshells
  • Bread, grains, cereals, rice, and pasta (cooked or uncooked)
  • Flour, cornmeal, and spices
  • Nuts, nutshells, seeds, and beans
  • Corncobs and fruit pits
  • Pickles, kimchi, and fermented foods
  • Food and beverage-soiled napkins and paper towels
  • Pumpkins, gourds, and squash (break into smaller pieces)
  • Pastries, desserts, and candies
  • Cut or dried flowers and houseplants
  • Uncoated paper cups, plates and bowls, greasy pizza boxes, and paper bags
  • BPI-certified compostable bags

Materials Not Accepted ❌  

  • Yard waste (Call 3-1-1 or visit 311.dc.gov to request a free yard waste pick-up year-round)
  • Large amounts of leftover cooking oil and grease (small amounts are acceptable)
  • Produce stickers, rubber bands, labels, and twist ties (remove before composting)
  • Plastic bags, wraps, and film (Note: "veggie bags" from the produce sections at grocery stores are often tinted green, but they are not compostable)
  • Plastic cups, straws, takeout containers, utensils, and packaging
  • Compostable and biodegradable food serviceware (e.g., plastic cups, straws, takeout containers, utensils) and all packaging
  • Plastic-lined and wax-coated paper products (e.g., cups, plates, bowls, takeout containers, and cardboard)
  • Plastics, metals, foil, glass, and “styrofoam”
  • Animal and human waste or bodily fluids (e.g., diapers, kitty litter, dog feces, used facial tissues, used toilet paper, baby wipes, and sanitary products)
  • Animal remains, such as deceased pets and “roadkill”
  • Diseased or infested houseplants, invasive plants, or contaminated soil (see the list of DC’s common native and invasive plants)
  • Clothes, fabric, yarn
  • Chewing gum and tobacco
  • Medications (prescribed and over-the-counter)
  • Other recyclables and trash

How to learn more

To learn more about the events, including how to prepare your materials for drop-off, visit https://zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff. Questions? Send an email to [email protected]. 

Ward: 
Ward 1
Ward 2
Ward 3
Ward 4
Ward 5
Ward 6
Ward 7
Ward 8
https://zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff
Contact: 
DC Department of Public Works - Office of Waste Diversion
Email: [email protected]