The City of Biddeford is partnering with We Compost It! to provide a free composting program at the Recycling Center for all Biddeford residents.

To participate in the program, residents can collect their food waste at home and dump it in the compost collection bins at the Recycling Center during regular operating hours.

All organic food scraps, such as fruits, vegetables, meats and fish (including bones), eggshells, bread, rice, pasta, and baked goods, will be accepted through the program, as well as paper towels, napkins, and coffee grounds and filters. Any other waste products, such as plastics, metals, and Styrofoam, are not accepted.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, food waste makes up about 22% of discarded municipal solid waste, more than any other single material in our everyday trash.

“If more of this food waste can be diverted from Biddeford’s waste stream, it would lower the City’s costs for solid waste disposal significantly,” said Public Works Director Jeff Demers. “At the same time, composting helps the environment by reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and by creating healthier soil.”

We Compost It! will collect the organic waste from the Recycling Center each Tuesday and Thursday and will transform it into nutrient-rich compost.

"We are thrilled to partner with the great City of Biddeford to return nutrients to our soil,” said Tyler Gleason, Operations Manager at We Compost It!. “Fruits and vegetables today contain 30% fewer vitamins and minerals than when our grandparents were young. This is a huge step toward a healthier planet."

Residents who participate in the program will be responsible for providing their own foodscrap collection containers for home use. Sure-Close Inc. kitchen pails that are designed to reduce food waste odors are available for purchase at the Recycling Center for $8 each.

Click the link below for more information about the composting program.