Top Composting & Food Waste in Somerville, Massachusetts Ranked

Somerville, Massachusetts, is a leader in sustainable waste management, offering robust programs for both residents and businesses to divert organic material from landfills. The city operates a municipal residential food waste pilot program and enforces a state commercial organics ban, creating a comprehensive framework for reducing food scraps. For businesses, particularly restaurants and food service establishments, navigating these requirements and available private services is key to compliance and environmental stewardship. This guide outlines the local landscape for organic waste recycling, from municipal rules to private haulers, helping you implement an effective system.

Recycle Boston

516 E 2nd St, Boston, MA 02127

Recycle Boston is a waste management company based in Brookline, MA, specializing in food waste composting and recycling services for restaurants and other businesses. They focus on improving business recycling processes by offering solutions for various materials including compostable waste, recycled plastics, reused wood, and e-waste. Their approach emphasizes sustainability and resource conservation through innovative recycling technology and community initiatives. Recycle Boston supports local businesses by providing access to sustainability resources and promoting green certification as a business advantage. The company is known for offering same-day pickup services and efficient scheduling to accommodate customer needs.

4.8

117 Reviews

Bootstrap Compost

17 Dalrymple St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Bootstrap Compost provides food waste and composting services for restaurants in Newton, MA. The company focuses on collecting organic waste to support sustainable composting practices in the local community.

5.0

1 Reviews

E.O.M.S. Recycling

318 Manley St, West Bridgewater, MA 02379

E.O.M.S. Recycling provides tailored recycling and solid waste solutions for restaurants and other businesses in Brockton, MA. They specialize in food waste and composting services, offering customized waste management plans based on detailed waste stream audits. The company supports effective recycling and waste reduction for a variety of clients including schools and municipalities, helping to manage waste streams efficiently.

3.9

34 Reviews

See more providers in Somerville, MA

Understanding Somerville's Waste Diversion Framework

Somerville's approach to organic waste is shaped by two primary drivers: a city-led initiative for residents and a state mandate for businesses. The residential curbside compost pilot, operated in partnership with Garbage to Garden, provides a no-cost option for eligible households in 1-6 unit buildings^{1 2}. Concurrently, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) enforces a commercial food material disposal ban, which requires any business or institution generating one-half ton or more of food scraps per week to divert this material from the trash³. This combination of voluntary residential programs and mandatory commercial regulations makes Somerville a proactive community in tackling food waste.

The Residential Food Waste Pilot Program

For Somerville residents, participating in food scrap recycling has been simplified through the city's pilot.

Eligibility and Enrollment: The program is currently available to residents living in buildings with one to six units who are not already subscribed to a private composting service^{1 4}. Enrollment involves applying through the city's website, after which participants receive a starter kit.

How the Service Works:

• Containers: Participants receive a small kitchen pail for collecting scraps indoors and a larger, locking curbside cart for weekly pickup^{1 2}.
• Schedule: Collection occurs weekly on your regular trash and recycling day⁵.
• Cost: There is no direct cost to residents enrolled in this municipal pilot program².

What You Can Compost: The program accepts a wide range of materials, including fruit and vegetable scraps, meat, bones, dairy, bread, and compostable paper like napkins and paper towels. It is crucial to avoid contamination by keeping out plastic bags, packaging, and other non-compostable items¹.

The Commercial Organics Ban: Requirements for Businesses

The MassDEP ban is a significant regulation for Somerville's vibrant business community, especially restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, and institutions.

Who is Affected? The ban applies to any business or institution that generates an average of one-half ton (1,000 pounds) or more of food waste per week. This includes pre- and post-consumer food scraps^{3 6}. Businesses below this threshold are encouraged to divert waste voluntarily.

Compliance Options: Affected entities cannot send this material to landfills or incinerators. Compliant options include:

• Donating edible food.
• Sending scraps to animal feed operations.
• Using anaerobic digestion facilities.
• Composting the material³.

For most restaurants, partnering with a licensed private hauler for compost collection is the most practical path to compliance.

Partnering with Private Haulers and Service Providers

While the city's pilot serves residents, businesses and larger residential buildings (like condos or apartments with more than six units) must engage private services. Several providers operate in Somerville, such as Black Earth Compost, which offers curbside collection for both businesses and residents not in the pilot⁷.

Typical Service Details:

• Containers: Haulers typically provide 13-gallon wheeled bins or other designated containers. The size and type can often be customized based on your volume^{7 8}.
• Schedule: Pickup frequency is flexible, ranging from weekly to bi-weekly, depending on your needs and the amount of waste generated⁷.
• Cost: Unlike the residential pilot, private and commercial services involve a fee. Costs vary by hauler, service frequency, and container size^{7 9}.

Implementing a Successful Food Waste Program

Starting or improving an organics diversion program requires planning. Here's a step-by-step approach:

1. Conduct a Waste Audit: Use tools from RecyclingWorks Massachusetts to estimate your weekly food scrap output and determine if you meet the half-ton threshold for the state ban¹⁰.
2. Select a Hauler: Research and contact local providers like Black Earth Compost to request quotes and service details. Ensure they transport waste to a compliant facility^{6 7}.
3. Set Up Internal Collection: Place clearly labeled collection bins in key areas, especially the kitchen prep area and dishwashing station. Using liners (preferably compostable) can keep bins clean⁶.
4. Train Your Team: Staff education is critical. Train all employees on what is and isn't compostable to minimize contamination, which can lead to rejected loads and extra fees^{6 10}.
5. Engage Your Customers: For restaurants, simple signage can inform customers about your composting efforts, encouraging them to separate scraps in designated bins if you offer front-of-house collection.

Best Practices for Contamination Prevention

Contamination-the presence of non-compostable items like plastic-is the biggest challenge for food scrap recycling. It can ruin entire batches of compost and increase processing costs.

• Use Clear Signage: Label all bins with pictures and lists of accepted items.
• Avoid Plastic Bags: Even those labeled "biodegradable" are often not accepted in commercial composting facilities. Use certified compostable bags or no liners at all^{3 6}.
• Start Simple: When launching a program, consider accepting only basic fruit and vegetable scraps initially, then expand the list of accepted items as staff become accustomed to the system.
• Regularly Monitor Bins: Designate a staff member to check collection bins for contaminants before pickup.

Proper separation not only ensures your material is processed but also helps reduce pests and odors, creating a cleaner workspace⁸.

The Environmental and Economic Impact

Diverting food waste from the trash has tangible benefits. Environmentally, it reduces methane emissions from landfills, a potent greenhouse gas. The compost created enriches soil, supporting local agriculture and landscaping. Economically, while there is a cost for private hauling, many businesses find they can reduce the size or frequency of their trash dumpster, potentially offsetting the new expense with lower trash collection costs⁹. Furthermore, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability can enhance your brand's reputation in a community like Somerville that values environmental action.

Frequently asked questions

Sources