Photo © Jason Baker 2012 via Flickr
Keeping food waste out of the trash helps reduce the amount of trash that is created and incinerated, improves our community’s sustainability, and keeps food away from rodents.
In Somerville’s Zero Waste Plan and Climate Forward 2024, the city set a goal to reduce the amount of waste generated in the city 30% by 2030 and 90% by 2050. These goals align with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Solid Waste Master Plan.
In Massachusetts, organic waste accounts for approximately 30% of municipal solid waste, so composting is a key tool to accomplish our waste reduction goals. There are several ways to compost in Somerville.
Contact Information
Drop-Off Food Waste Bins
The City of Somerville has launched a citywide network of food waste drop-off bins. This project was chosen to be funded by residents through a participatory budgeting process.
How do I use the bins?
Step 1: Figure out what you can compost.
Items that CAN be put in a food waste bin:
- Vegetables, fruit, citrus, bread
- Cooked & raw food
- Pits, peels, shells, bones & seeds
- Meat, dairy & bread
- Coffee grounds and loose tea
- Cut flowers/house plants not treated with pesticides
- Napkins and paper towels
- Compostable bowls, plates, and utensils
- Hair
Items you should NOT put in the bin:
- Plastics and Styrofoam
- Paper coated with plastic or foil
- Wax paper
- Chemicals or pesticides
- Metals
- Glass
- Pet Waste and diapers
- Any inorganic material
- Plastic wrap, twist ties, stickers, staples, tin foil, condiment packets & rubber bands
- Brush or sticks (thicker than a pencil)
Step 2: Place loose food scraps in a compostable or paper bag. Keep your bagged compost in a small, portable bucket.
Step 3: Find a bin near you. A map of bin locations is available here.
Step 4: Register to use the bins by scanning the QR code on a bin or complete the registration form here. By completing the one-time registration form, residents will help the City of Somerville understand how the food waste bins are used and prevent them from being used as trash cans. After completing the form, you’ll get the code to unlock the bin.
Step 5: Put your bagged food scraps into the bin, and relock it!
East Somerville Curbside Pilot
In fall 2025, the City of Somerville began a pilot program to provide curbside food waste collection in East Somerville. The pilot program is planned to run through mid-2027.
How does the curbside food waste collection pilot program work?
Step 1: Find out if you are eligible and register to begin service at somervillecomposts.com or by calling the City’s vendor, Garbage to Garden, by phone at (617) 977-4547 or email at info@garbagetogarden.org Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Eligible households must:
- be located within the pilot neighborhood in East Somerville
- be located in a building with 6 units or fewer
- not already have an active curbside composting subscription
Step 2: Once enrolled, Garbage to Garden will notify you when your service will begin. Participating households will have a kitchen container, curbside bin, and educational materials delivered to their home at no cost.
Step 3: Read the how-to guide (also included in your starter kit) to understand what materials you can compost and how to participate.
How-To Guides:
Pilot program participants may receive short surveys to help the city better understand the community’s interest in composting and how a program could be expanded in the future.
Additional Pilot Program Materials from the City
What if I have questions about the pilot program?
The City of Somerville's food waste collection pilot program is provided by Garbage to Garden. Please contact them directly with any questions by calling (617) 977-4547 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., or emailing info@garbagetogarden.org at any time. For service or account related inquiries, please include your service address. Questions that Garbage to Garden can answer include, but are not limited to:
- How to sign up
- How to access or update your account
- Accepted items
- Service-related requests or inquiries
- Bin replacement requests
- Weather and holiday-related schedule delays
If you need assistance translating or understanding customer service assistance from Garbage to Garden, please call 311 (617-666-3311) or contact us at languageaccess@somervillema.gov. The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter for free.
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What if I want curbside food waste pickup?
For residents who prefer for their food waste to be collected at their home (and don’t qualify for the East Somerville Curbside Pilot), several private vendors offer curbside subscription services in Somerville.
Where can I provide feedback on drop-off bin locations?
To provide feedback on drop-off bin locations, including to request a location for a potential future bin, fill out the form here.
In the News
- Cambridge-Somerville Independent: Somerville needs more households to try free curbside food waste collection
- City of Somerville: Mayor Ballantyne Announces Curbside Food Waste Collection Pilot
- Waste Dive: Somerville latest to join list of Massachusetts cities with organics programs
- WBZ News Radio: Somerville To Launch New Food Waste Collection Pilot Program