Resident Food Scrap Drop-Off Program

Review DRAFT – Review DRAFT – 5/14/23 – Review DRAFT – Review DRAFT

Collect your kitchen food scraps for composting, instead of adding them to our trash or sewage.

Who is Doing This?
The Recycling Committee has formed a Resident Food Scrap Drop-Off Subcommittee of residents who have been working for a number of years to introduce a composting option for residents. Volunteers are available to help interested residents get started in collecting their food scraps and also to monitor the weekly drop off locations.

Why do this now?
Recently, Maryland passed a law mandating additional recycling of food scraps, and our local counties are moving forward with curb-side pickup of food scrap waste for residents (see the PGC Composts initiative and the Montgomery Pilot Program). While our Resident Food Scrap Drop-off Program is somewhat different, the benefits are the same:

Reduces landfill methane emissions
Reduces pollution from incinerators
Produces garden-ready compost
Supports sustainable agriculture
Supports local businesses

Isn’t Riderwood Already Doing This?
Riderwood has had an innovative food scrap recycling program for many years! This program handles kitchen scraps from our residential dining rooms, but does not include food scraps from our individual resident apartments.

How Do I Get Involved?
Food scraps will be dropped off in each of the four neighborhoods once a week (day, times, and locations TBD ). Green bins will be conveniently located, with a resident monitor to assist and answer any questions .

Be sure to include only the acceptable items identified below, otherwise your bag will have to go into the trash, and not be part of the food scrap program.