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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. The drop-off locations are open on the weekends in all eight wards. 

Where Can I Participate?

Location
Address
Ward
Program Day
Drop-Off Times
Columbia Heights Farmers Market
14th St. NW and Kenyon St. NW
Ward 1
Sat - Year Round
9am-1pm
Mt. Pleasant Farmers Market
3200 Mt Pleasant St. NW
Ward 1
Sat - Year Round
9am-1pm
Dupont Circle Farmers Market
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 - Apr 29 - Nov 18
8:30am-1:30pm
Palisades Farmers Market
48th Place NW and MacArthur Blvd NW
Ward 3
Sun - Year Round
9am-1pm
Cleveland Park Farmers Market
3426 Connecticut Ave NW
Ward 3
Sat - May 13 - Dec 16
9am-1pm
Uptown Farmers Market
14th St. NW and Kennedy St. NW
Ward 4
Sat - May 6 - Oct 28
9am-1pm
Monroe Street Farmers Market
716 Monroe St. NE
Ward 5
Sat - Year Round
9am-1pm
Eastern Market (in front of Rumsey Pool)
635 North Carolina Avenue SE
Ward 6
Sat - Year Round
9am-1pm
Farmers Market SW
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
Ward 8 Farmers Market
Barns at Saint Elizabeths East (Red Lot); Elm St. SE and MLK Ave SE
Ward 8
Closed as of 10/7/2023
Closed

 

Through the free service, residents are able to drop off food waste at designated farmers' markets 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
  • Egg shells
  • Nutshells
  • Corncobs
  • Stale beans, flour, and spices
  • Cut or dried flowers
  • Pumpkins and Squash
  • Milk, cheese, or other dairy products
  • Meat or Fish scraps and bones
  • Fats, grease, oil, or oily foods
  • 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 or compostable plastics & packaging

How to Bring Your Food Waste to the Market

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.

 

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