Food Waste Prevention & Donation
Stopping food waste before it begins and donating food is the best practice before composting or anaerobically digesting waste. Learn about food donation and waste prevention here.
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.
Residential Food Waste Collection
Following the completion of DPW's year-long Curbside Composting Pilot Program in September 2024, DPW continues to offer food waste collection for participants. District residents can sign up to join the waitlist for future program expansion. Learn more.
Learn How to Grasscycle
"Grasscycling" is the simple act of leaving your grass clippings on the lawn after you have mowed. The result is a healthier-looking lawn that saves you time and money! Learn more.
Leaf Collection
Every fall, DPW collects leaves at least twice by “vacuuming” the leaves residents rake into their tree boxes. These leaves are then composted.
Find the leaf collection schedule and status for your neighborhood.
Holiday Trees
Each January, holiday trees and greenery are collected from the curb in front of residential households serviced by DPW. These trees, along with any greenery brought to the Fort Totten Transfer Station, will be composted. Visit here to find out when holiday trees and greenery will be collected this year for composting.
Community Composting
Join one of 50 DC Department of Parks and Recreation’s (DPR) critter-proof Community Compost Cooperatives around the city to compost your food scraps with garden waste as a community. Or take the DPR Master Urban Composter Course to learn how to start and manage a community composting site.
Pick-Up Free Mulch
DPW will allow District residents to fill up to five 32-gallon bags (bring your own bags and shovel) of free mulch or compost (subject to availability) Wednesday - Friday 10A - 2P and Saturday 7A - 2P, at the Fort Totten Transfer Station, 4900 John McCormack Rd NE.