Residential Food Waste Composting Program

Recycle shavings of vegetables

Recognizing the city’s landfill is filling up with materials that do not belong there, the city is advancing initiatives intended to divert materials away from the landfill that can be either re-used, recycled, mulched or composted. Approximately 30 percent of all waste currently going to the landfill could be composted.

Through small changes in our daily routines, we can help preserve the landfill capacity for years to come and forestall millions of tax-dollar expenditures with new infrastructure.

Fort Worth residents now have the opportunity to turn even more waste into resources by collecting their food scraps, which can be processed into compost — a rich soil nutrient. When composted, food scraps are diverted from your garbage cart helping to preserve the life of the city’s landfill.

Please note: ONLY residential food scraps are accepted in the Composting Pilot Program.

 

Why does Fort Worth offer a residential food waste compost program?

Recycling residential food scrap

  • To divert more materials that are not waste away from the landfill, which also helps maintain/reduce costs for the taxpayer.
  • To prevent excessive methane greenhouse gas emissions into our air from decomposing food scraps at the landfill.
  • By diverting food scraps and producing a valuable product, our local economy can also reap benefits.

 

Why should I participate?

dirt worms Because our community is willing and capable of being a green leader in Texas, plus this program will provide valuable data for all of North Texas and beyond. More and more people in Fort Worth want to do what’s environmentally right and help make our community greener. That means reducing waste, re-using items, recycling more, and composting! We all benefit from a more livable community. Be a part of this new program and pat yourself on the back for making a big "green" impact. As an added bonus, the sign-up fee will be used to make compost more accessible to agricultural producers and community gardens.

How do I sign up for the program?

  • Click HERE to complete sign-up form and pay the $20 subscription fee.
  • All fees collected by the Residential Food Scrap Composting Pilot Program will be used to make compost more accessible to agricultural producers and community gardens.
  • After your subscription form and payment have been processed and you have been entered into our system, your Composting Starter Kit pickup will be assigned to a City of Fort Worth Drop-Off Station closest to your residence, and the pick-up instructions will be sent to you.
  • Starter Kit includes: 5-gallon bucket with lid for food scraps transportation, kitchen countertop pail, assorted educational materials, and a refrigerator magnet reminding you of what can and cannot be composted. Note: Buckets may vary in color and shape.

Now you have your starter kit, what's next?

Compost Container

    • The magnet and program FAQ offer you additional details on what’s accepted and what isn't.
    • Every participant receives a small pail that resides on your kitchen counter to make it easy to start collecting food scraps. Transfer contents of pail to 5-gallon bucket.
  • Once the bucket is full, or once every 7-10 days (whichever comes first), you can then drop off the food scraps at one of 19 collection sites across the city.
  • Bring your bucket back home, rinse, and repeat!

 

Partners

cowboy-compost-logo.png  

Cowboy Compost, LLC.

Cowboy Compost is an award-winning, zero-waste company based in Fort Worth, TX, with the goal of reducing waste by providing food-scraps and compostable items collection services to our community.

       

SIGN UP HERE!

 

Food Waste Collection Sites

Click on the number on the map to view address, next click on the link in the pop up to view more about the collection site.

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  • 1Botanic Gardens
  • 2Foster Park
  • 3Fairmount Park
  • 4Hartwood Park Tennis Courts
  • 5River Park
  • 6Brennan Drop Off Station
  • 7Southeast Drop Off Station
  • 8Old Hemphill Drop Off Station
  • 9Hillshire Drop Off Station
  • 10Environmental Collection Center
  • 11Northwest Library
  • 12City Hall
  • 13Chisholm Trail Park
  • 14Walsh Community Garden
  • 15Golden Triangle Library
  • 16Ellis Park
  • Alliance Park
  • 18Ridglea Christian Church
  • 19Handley Meadowbrook Community Center
  • 20Hazel Harvey Peace Center for Neighborhoods
  • 21 Diamond Hill Community Center for Neighborhoods

City of Fort Worth curbside garbage and recycling services are provided by Waste Management and Knight Waste Services.

wm-logo.jpg            Waste Management logo