Buffalo, NY – The city of Buffalo has launched a new pilot program to collect and compost food scraps from residential households. The program, called Scrap It! Curbside, is part of the city’s effort to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
What is Scrap It! Curbside?
Scrap It! Curbside is a residential food scrap collection pilot program that allows participating households to dispose of their food scraps separately from their regular garbage. The program is a partnership between the city of Buffalo and Farmer Pirates Compost, a local urban farming and composting cooperative.
The program aims to divert food scraps from landfills, where they produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, food scraps make up almost 20 percent of New York’s household waste.
How does it work?
As part of the pilot program, the city will provide more than 200 households from each of the city’s nine council districts with brown food scrap totes, information on what can and can’t be recycled, and compostable liners. The totes will be emptied once a week on the regularly scheduled garbage pickup day by Farmer Pirates Compost, who will transfer the food scraps to their compost site at 0 Gittere St. Buffalo, NY, 14211.
The pilot program will run until September 30th, 2023, and will serve as a model for future expansion to households citywide. The program is voluntary and free of charge for the participating households.
What can be recycled?
The program accepts vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds (filter okay), tea bags, nut and egg shells, bread and grains, dairy products, meat and bones, and cooked foods. The program does not accept liquids, oils and fats, paper products, plastic bags or wrappers, metal or glass items, pet waste, or diapers.
Why is it important?
The program is part of the city’s effort to increase recycling and better protect the environment. Mayor Byron W. Brown said in a press release: “We’re excited to launch Scrap It! Curbside, a residential food scrap collection pilot program, which we hope will serve as a model for future expansion to households citywide. By diverting food scraps, we will continue to lower the City’s solid waste disposal costs, reduce household waste, and continue to utilize every means necessary to reduce what we put in the waste stream.”
Urban Farmer Terra Dumas, co-owner of Farmer Pirates Compost, said: “As pioneers of Buffalo’s food scrap composting program over 10 years ago, we are thrilled to partner with Mayor Brown and the City of Buffalo to continue to increase access to composting and reduce waste, citywide!”
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said: “Congratulations to the city of Buffalo and Mayor Brown for leading the charge to reduce waste and harmful methane emissions with the food scrap curbside collection pilot. Food scraps make up almost 20 percent of New York’s household waste and when this is disposed of at landfills, it creates methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Programs such as DEC’s Municipal Food Scraps Recycling Initiatives help communities make a difference both in the lives of those in need and in the ongoing fight against climate change. Municipal and private partnerships like the one between Buffalo and Farmer Pirates Compost provide an excellent model for communities statewide.”
How to join?
The program is open to any household in the city of Buffalo that has curbside garbage collection service. Interested residents can sign up online at BuffaloRecycles.org or FarmerPirates.com. The program has a limited capacity of 2,000 households on a first come, first served basis.
For more information about the program, visit BuffaloRecycles.org or FarmerPirates.com, or call 311.
