Top Composting & Food Waste in Irving, Texas Ranked

For restaurants and food service businesses in Irving, managing organic waste is a critical operational and environmental consideration. Unlike many cities with municipal organics programs, Irving relies on a system of private franchised haulers for commercial waste services, including food scrap collection and composting. This means that establishing a food waste diversion program requires a direct partnership with a waste service provider. Understanding the local landscape for organic recycling, from provider options to strict contamination guidelines, is the first step toward reducing landfill contributions and potentially lowering overall waste management costs.

Recycle Revolution

6835 Forest Park Rd, Dallas, TX 75235

Recycle Revolution offers food waste and composting services for restaurants and businesses in Dallas, TX. They provide collection services and operate a community drop-off center that supports responsible resource recovery. The company focuses on fostering recycling and composting culture in North Texas and accepts a variety of materials including food scraps and hard-to-recycle items. With over 10 years of experience, Recycle Revolution is committed to environmental awareness and good neighborship.

4.8

88 Reviews

The Organic Recycler - Mulch, Compost, Soil & More

13001 Old Denton Rd, Keller, TX 76262

The Organic Recycler - Mulch, Compost, Soil & More is based in Keller, TX, and provides a range of landscaping products and services. They specialize in supplying mulch, soils, compost, and aggregates, along with land clearing services for projects of various sizes. The company also recycles food and liquid waste to create sustainable organic landscaping materials. Founded in 2014, The Organic Recycler serves the DFW area, Austin, and Oklahoma, offering dependable delivery and a blower application service to assist with larger jobs.

4.6

11 Reviews

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Understanding Irving's Waste Collection System

Irving's approach to waste management separates residential and commercial services. The City of Irving provides basic trash and recycling collection for residents and some commercial properties, but it does not offer a municipal composting or food waste recycling service for businesses. ¹ For commercial entities like restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores, waste collection is handled through a franchise system. The city has authorized specific private waste haulers to provide services within designated zones. Consequently, restaurants must contract directly with one of these franchised haulers-such as Waste Management or Republic Services-to arrange for dedicated organics collection. ² This system offers flexibility but requires business owners to be proactive in sourcing and setting up their food scrap recycling programs.

Key Providers for Organic Waste Services

Navigating the provider landscape is essential. The major national waste management companies operating in Irving typically handle commercial organics collection through their local service brands.

• Waste Management (WM): As a primary franchised hauler in the area, WM offers comprehensive commercial services, including organics and food waste recycling. They provide dedicated containers and tailored pickup schedules.
• Republic Services: Another major player, often operating under local names, Republic Services provides similar commercial organic recycling programs. They work with businesses to set up streams for compostable materials.
• Local/Regional Haulers: Depending on your specific location within Irving, there may be other authorized franchised haulers. It's important to verify which companies are permitted to service your business address by checking with the City of Irving's Public Works Department.

The process begins by contacting these providers directly for a consultation and quote. They will assess your volume of food waste, kitchen layout, and current waste hauling contract to design a service plan. ²

Setting Up Your Service: Containers and Schedules

Once you select a provider, they will help you implement a practical system for separating food waste in your kitchen. Service plans are highly customizable to fit the needs of a small café or a large restaurant.

• Container Types: Haulers typically supply sealed, wheeled carts (often called totes) in sizes like 64-gallon or 96-gallon to store food scraps. These are designed to minimize odors and pests. Your provider will also specify if compostable liner bags are allowed or required for use inside these carts. ^{3 4}
• Collection Schedules: Pickup frequency is not one-size-fits-all. A provider might recommend service anywhere from twice a week to daily, based on your food waste output. This schedule is often coordinated with your existing trash and recycling pickups to streamline operations. ^{3 1}
• On-Site Logistics: Your hauler can advise on the best placement for collection carts (e.g., dumpster corral, loading dock) and may provide smaller collection pails for kitchen staff to use during food prep, making the sorting process intuitive and efficient.

Strict Contamination Guidelines for Success

The single most important factor for a successful food waste recycling program is preventing contamination. Contaminated loads can be rejected by composting facilities, negating your environmental efforts and potentially incurring fees. Haulers provide clear guidelines, which generally include:

✅ ACCEPTABLE Materials (Food & Kitchen Scraps):

• Fruit and vegetable trimmings
• Meat, fish, and bones
• Dairy products
• Bread, grains, and pasta
• Eggshells and coffee grounds
• Loose tea leaves and paper tea bags (staples removed)
• Soiled, non-recyclable paper like napkins or pizza boxes (check with your hauler)

❌ NOT ACCEPTABLE Materials (Common Contaminants):

• Plastic bags (even those labeled "compostable" or "biodegradable" are often not accepted unless explicitly approved by your hauler) ³
• Liquids, oils, and grease
• Styrofoam and plastic utensils
• Glass, metal, or plastic packaging
• Conventional plastic wrap or gloves
• Yard waste (unless specifically included in your service contract)

Clear signage and staff training are non-negotiable. A small amount of plastic or liquid can ruin an entire cart of compostable material. ³

Analyzing Costs and Potential Savings

Investing in organics recycling involves a new line item in your operational budget, but it can also lead to savings. Costs are not fixed and vary based on several factors your hauler will evaluate:

• Service Volume: The size of the collection cart (e.g., 64-gallon vs. 96-gallon).
• Pickup Frequency: How many times per week the cart is serviced.
• Contract Terms: Length of service agreement.
• Location & Access: Ease of access for collection vehicles.

As a rough estimate, a restaurant might expect to pay between $75 to $200+ per month for a standard service level, such as a 96-gallon cart collected three times per week. ³ However, the only way to get an accurate price is to obtain a direct quote from providers.

The financial benefit often comes from a concurrent reduction in your regular trash service. By diverting heavy, wet food waste into a separate stream, you may be able to downsize your trash dumpster or reduce its pickup frequency, lowering those costs. A combined waste management analysis from your hauler can reveal this potential for net savings.

Steps to Launch Your Program

Ready to start diverting food waste from the landfill? Follow this actionable checklist:

1. Conduct a Waste Audit: Spend a week observing how much food waste your kitchen generates. This data will be invaluable when speaking to providers.
2. Contact Authorized Haulers: Reach out to Waste Management, Republic Services, and any other franchised haulers for your Irving location. Request a consultation for commercial organic recycling services. ²
3. Review and Compare Quotes: Ask for detailed quotes that outline monthly costs, container sizes, pickup schedules, and any startup fees. Inquire about how adding organics collection might affect your existing trash service costs.
4. Get Specific Guidelines: Once you choose a provider, obtain their written list of acceptable and unacceptable materials. Use this to create your internal training materials.
5. Train Your Team: Educate every staff member, from dishwashers to chefs, on the new sorting system. Emphasize the importance of avoiding contamination.
6. Monitor and Adjust: After launch, check the collection carts regularly for contaminants and provide feedback to your team. Adjust container sizes or pickup frequency with your hauler as needed.

For general rules and to confirm franchised hauler information, the City of Irving's website is a helpful resource. ¹

Frequently asked questions

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