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zerowaste

Zero Waste
Zero Waste

Food Waste Drop-Off

District residents can drop-off food waste to be composted at designated farmers markets and community sites. The drop-off locations are open on the weekends in all eight wards. Food Waste Drop-Off sites may be closed if the hosting farmers market is closed; please check their website for specifics dates. 

Where Can I Participate?

Location
Address
Ward
Program Day
Drop-Off Times
14th St. NW and Kenyon St. NW
Ward 1
Sat - Year Round
10am-1pm
Mt. Pleasant Farmers Market
3200 Mt Pleasant St. NW
Ward 1
Sat - Year Round
9am-1pm
1500 20th St. NW
Ward 2
Sun - Year Round
8:30am-1:30pm
University of District of Columbia Farmers Market
4340 Connecticut Ave. NW
Ward 3
Sat - Closed through April 2024
Closed
48th Place NW and MacArthur Blvd NW
Ward 3
Sun - Year Round
9am-1pm
3426 Connecticut Ave NW
Ward 3
Sat - Closed through May 2024
Closed
14th St. NW and Kennedy St. NW
Ward 4
Sat - Closed through May 2024
Closed
716 Monroe St. NE
Ward 5
Sat - Year Round
10am-1pm
Eastern Market (in front of Rumsey Pool)
635 North Carolina Avenue SE
Ward 6
Sat - Year Round
9am-1pm
425 M Street SW
Ward 6
Sat - Year Round 
9am-1pm
First Baptist Church of Deanwood - Outreach Center
1008 45th Street NE
Ward 7
Sat - Year Round
9am-12:30pm
Barns at Saint Elizabeths East (Red Lot); Elm St. SE and MLK Ave SE
Ward 8
 Sat - Closed through June 2024
Closed

 

Through the free service, residents are able to drop off food waste at designated farmers markets and community sites in all eight city wards. The food waste collected at these drop-off locations is composted locally at District community composting sites and at the Prince George’s County Organics Compost facility.

Complete List of Items Accepted in the Food Waste Drop-Off Program

Materials Accepted
Materials Not Accepted
  • Fruit, vegetable scraps, and salad
  • Coffee grounds, paper tea bags, and loose tea
  • Bread, grains, cereals, rice, and pasta
  • Milk, cheese, or other dairy products
  • Meat or seafood scraps (cooked or uncooked) and bones
  • Egg shells
  • Nutshells
  • Corncobs
  • Stale beans, flour, and spices
  • Cut or dried flowers
  • Pumpkins and Squash
  • Fats, grease, or oil
  • Plastic bags, wraps or film
  • Coated or Uncoated Paper and Cardboard (Paper bags, plates, bowls)
  • Non-compostable materials like plastic, metals, foil, glass, or Styrofoam
  • Pet refuse
  • Diseased or insect-infested houseplants and soil
  • Biodegradable plastics & biodegradable or compostable  packaging

 

How to Bring Your Food Waste to a Food Waste Drop-Off Site

Acceptable food scraps and organic materials can be collected in covered plastic containers, paper/plastic bags. When you arrive at the Food Waste Drop-Off location, you can empty your food waste from the container into the available bins. Paper towels, spatulas, and hand santizer are provided for your convenice. Please keep in mind that plastic bags are NOT recyclable in the District.

We recommend rinsing plastic containers holding the food waste between uses and lining the bottom with shredded newspapers for odor control. Another tip for controlling odors is to store food scraps in the freezer or refrigerator.

Can Businesses Drop Off Materials to Compost?

Commercial food scraps are not accepted. Businesses should contact a local hauler who can handle commercial organic waste.

 

Contact TTY: 
711