How to Recycle Food Waste
Kitchen scraps, plate waste, and food-soiled paper. Produce, coffee grounds, eggshells, and plain bread compost in any backyard pile. Meat and dairy need a municipal program, and pizza boxes now go in ordinary recycling.
Find Food Waste Recycling Centers Near You
Ready to recycle your food waste materials? Use our search tool to find nearby recycling centers that accept these items.
Complete Food Waste Guide
The Power of Composting
Food waste creates methane in landfills, a powerful greenhouse gas. Composting transforms this "waste" into valuable, nutrient-rich soil.
- • Greens (Nitrogen): Fruit scraps, vegetable peels, coffee grounds
- • Browns (Carbon): Paper napkins, cardboard, sawdust
- • No-Go Items: Plastics, stickers, metals, glass
- • Outcome: Natural fertilizer for gardens and farms
Environmental Benefits
Food is the single largest category in US landfills, and buried food is what makes them a methane source. A compost pile stays aerobic and releases CO2 instead.
Why It Matters:
- • Keeps food out of the anaerobic layer that makes landfill methane
- • Enriches soil and reduces need for chemical fertilizers
- • Improves soil water retention
- • Reduces trash volume by up to 40%
Food Waste & Composting FAQ
What foods can be composted?
Fruits, vegetables, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, nut shells, shredded paper, cardboard. Avoid meat, dairy, and oils in backyard piles (these require industrial composting).
Can I compost meat and dairy?
In industrial/municipal programs: Usually YES (they get hot enough). In backyard compost: NO (they attract pests and produce odors). Always check your local program guidelines.
Can I compost bioplastics?
Only in industrial facilities. "Compostable" forks/cups will NOT break down in a backyard pile; they need sustained high heat (140°F+).
Does composting smell?
A healthy compost pile smells like earthy soil. If it smells rotten, it needs more air (turning) or more "browns" (leaves/paper). Bad smells usually mean it's too wet.