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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 and Kenyon Streets, NW
Ward 1
Sat - Year Round
10am-1pm
Mt. Pleasant Farmers Market
3200 Mt Pleasant St, NW
Ward 1
Sat - Year Round
9am-1pm
DuPont Circle Farmers Market
1500 20th Street, 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
9am-1pm
Palisades Farmers Market
48th Place NW , 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 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
10am-1pm
Eastern Market (in front of Rumsey Pool)
635 North Carolina Avenue, SE
Ward 6
Sat - Year Round
9am-1pm
SW Farmers Market
425 M Street, SW
Ward 7
Sat - Year Round
9am-1pm
First Baptist Church of Deanwood - Outreach Center
1008 45th Street, NE
Ward 7
Sat - Year Round
9am-1pm
Ward 8 Farmers Market
Barns at Saint Elizabeths East (Red Lot) Elm St. SE, MLK Ave SE
Ward 8
Sat - June 3 - November
10am-2pm

DPW also has introduced new procedures to use at the markets that reflect Mayor Bowser’s objectives to keep District residents safe.

  • Gloves and hands sanitized periodically with sanitizer.
  • Reusable washcloths replaced with compostable paper towels.
  • Paper squares provided to use with the spoon handle.
  • Sign-up sheets have been removed to eliminate using a shared pen.
  • Hand sanitizer will be kept on table.

Visitors are encouraged to wash their compost bins with soap and hot water after drop-off, as an extra precaution.

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.

Market locations and dates are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please reference this website.  

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. 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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