Top Composting & Food Waste in Fort Collins, Colorado Ranked

Fort Collins is a leader in environmental stewardship, and its approach to organic waste management reflects this commitment. For restaurants and businesses, managing food scraps and organic waste is not just an operational task but a significant opportunity to reduce environmental impact, comply with potential future regulations, and connect with a community that values sustainability. The city actively supports diversion efforts through innovative partnerships and programs designed to make commercial food waste recycling accessible and cost-effective. Understanding the local landscape for organics recycling is the first step toward integrating these practices successfully into daily operations.

Compost Queen

1505 N College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Compost Queen provides food waste and composting services for restaurants and residences in Fort Collins, CO, as well as Timnath, Wellington, Loveland, and Windsor. They operate small-scale, thermophilic composting facilities that transform food scraps into high-quality soil amendments using a carefully balanced aerobic process. Their service includes curbside pickup of food scraps and returning finished compost to customers in the spring and fall. Compost Queen partners with local farms to keep waste local and support sustainable agriculture. The company is involved in a food waste pilot program with the City of Fort Collins, aiming to reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

5.0

48 Reviews

Common Good Compost LLC

2217 Airway Ave bay 5, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Common Good Compost LLC provides food waste and composting services for restaurants in Fort Collins, CO. They offer weekly pickups of food scraps and supply compostable bags to support sustainable waste management. Their service includes specialized composting options such as pumpkin composting.

4.6

21 Reviews

A1 Organics

16350 Co Rd 76, Eaton, CO 80615

A1 Organics is a family-owned business based in Greeley, CO, specializing in organic recycling and composting services. Since 1974, they have provided organic soils, composts, mulches, and organics recycling for home gardens, commercial landscapers, agriculturalists, municipalities, and institutions throughout the Front Range, including Eaton, Keenesburg, Commerce City, and Englewood. The company is known for diverting over 525,000 tons of waste annually from Colorado landfills and producing certified compost and premium mulches. A1 Organics operates multiple facilities and has been a leader in organic recycling since opening Colorado's first fully permitted recycling facility in 1996.

4.0

23 Reviews

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The Local Landscape for Organic Waste

Northern Colorado, with Fort Collins at its heart, has a growing infrastructure dedicated to keeping organic material out of landfills. This movement is driven by both environmental goals and practical waste management needs. For food service establishments, this means there are established pathways and service providers ready to handle post-consumer food waste, pre-consumer food scraps, and other compostable materials. Engaging with these services transforms waste from a disposal cost into a community resource, contributing to the production of nutrient-rich compost that supports local agriculture and landscaping.

Key Services and Programs for Businesses

Fort Collins offers specific resources tailored to help businesses, especially restaurants, navigate food waste recycling.

Compost Queen Pilot Program A standout initiative is the city-subsidized Compost Queen Pilot Program. This program offers a significant opportunity for new commercial customers in Fort Collins to participate in weekly food scrap collection at a reduced rate. Businesses can sign up for a 65-gallon wheeled cart service, which is collected weekly. The pilot pricing is set at approximately $40 per month, a substantial discount from the regular commercial rate of $120 or more. ^{1 2 3} This program is funded by Fort Collins' disposable bag fee revenue and is scheduled to run through October 2026, though participant spots may be limited. ^{1 4 5}

Service Provider Options Beyond the pilot program, several private haulers and specialized services operate in the area, offering a range of container sizes and pickup frequencies. It's advisable for restaurant managers to compare services based on volume, cost, and the specific types of organic waste accepted (e.g., meat, bones, dairy, compostable serviceware).

Drop-Off Alternatives For businesses generating smaller volumes of food scraps, or as a supplemental option, drop-off services are available. Compost Queen, for instance, offers bucket-based drop-off options at local markets, which can be a flexible solution for some establishments. ^{1 6}

What Can Be Composted Commercially?

Knowing what materials are accepted is crucial to preventing contamination, which can lead to entire loads being rejected. While you should always confirm with your specific service provider, typical accepted items in commercial food waste programs include:

• Food scraps: Fruit and vegetable peels, cores, and leftovers.
• Prepared foods: Bread, pasta, rice, and other grains.
• Dairy products: Cheese, yogurt, and butter.
• Meat and bones: Often accepted in commercial composting facilities that reach high temperatures.
• Coffee grounds and filters.
• Eggshells and nutshells.
• Compostable paper products: Uncoated paper towels, napkins, and certified compostable serviceware (verify with provider).

It is essential to keep non-compostable contaminants like plastic bags, rubber bands, glass, metals, and traditional plastics out of the organics stream. ^{1 7} The City of Fort Collins provides clear guidelines to help avoid common contamination issues. ^{7 8}

Benefits of a Restaurant Food Waste Program

Implementing a food scrap recycling program offers tangible advantages beyond environmental goodwill.

• Potential Cost Savings: By diverting heavy, wet organic waste from the trash, businesses may be able to reduce the size or frequency of their garbage dumpster service, potentially lowering overall waste hauling costs.
• Enhanced Sustainability Profile: Customers increasingly prefer to support businesses with verifiable green practices. A robust composting program is a visible and meaningful commitment.
• Waste Diversion Goals: Participating helps Fort Collins move toward its community-wide waste reduction and sustainability targets. ⁴
• Improved Operational Hygiene: Separating food waste often involves using dedicated, sealable containers that can reduce odors and pest attraction in kitchen and dumpster areas.

Steps to Implement a Program

Starting a food waste separation system in a restaurant requires planning but is straightforward.

1. Conduct a Waste Audit: Assess the volume and types of food waste generated in the front and back of house.
2. Select a Service Provider: Research and contact local haulers like Compost Queen or others to discuss pricing, containers, and pickup schedules that fit your needs. The subsidized pilot program is an excellent starting point for eligible businesses. ^{1 5}
3. Acquire Appropriate Bins: Place clearly labeled, lined collection bins in key areas: prep stations, dish pits, and potentially wait stations.
4. Train Your Staff: Comprehensive training for all employees is critical. Explain the "why," the "what" (what goes in, what stays out), and the "how" of the new process.
5. Monitor and Adjust: Check bins periodically for contamination, gather feedback from staff, and adjust bin placement or training as needed.

Regulations and Community Goals

While commercial food waste recycling is not universally mandated in Fort Collins at this time, the city has ambitious climate action and zero waste goals. Proactive participation by the business community, especially in the food service sector, is a vital component of achieving these targets. ^{7 4} Staying ahead of potential future regulations by establishing systems now can save time and resources later. The City of Fort Collins website is a valuable resource for the latest information on recycling and waste diversion guidelines. ^{7 8}

Frequently asked questions

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