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' Market. The drop-off locations are open on the weekends in all eight wards.
Learn How to Compost at Home
With the Home Composting Program, you can learn how to compost at home, sign up for a training workshop, and apply for a rebate worth up to $75! 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 Compost
DPW will allow District residents to fill up to five 32-gallon bags (bring your own bags and shovel) of free compost Wednesday - Friday 10A - 2P and Saturday 7A - 2P, at the Benning Road Transfer Station, 3200 Benning Rd NE.