Food Scrap Recycling
Survey for residents who live in the pilot area.
Even if you're not participating, we'd like to hear from you.
Curbside Food Scrap Collection Pilot Program
A large portion of the trash generated in Howard County is food scraps – according to a recent study, about 23% of Howard County’s trash is food scrap. That’s right – almost a quarter of what we send to the landfill is wasted food.
Volunteer households in certain areas of Elkridge and Ellicott City are participating in the food scrap collection pilot program.
Participants received a special food scrap collection cart that is emptied weekly on recycling day.
Currently, we are not aware of any similar programs on the east coast, so the information gathered during this study will be very important.
You can make a difference, no matter how big (or small!) your household.
To SIGN UP or see if you are in the pilot area, please click here.
Report from the mini food scrap collection pilot in Howard County.
Food scrap pictures from the mini pilot.
Printable guide of what's accepted and FAQs
See us on the news!
Easy indoor bin liner made from newspaper.
NEW Help Videos (tips and hints for successful food scrap collection)
What is Accepted?
- Fruit and vegetable scraps (fresh or cooked)
- Bread, pasta, rice, grains, cereal
- Cakes, pies, cookies, baked goods
- Nuts, beans, seeds (including shells/hulls)
- Corn cobs and husks
- Coffee grounds, filters, tea bags (no foil or foil-backed products)
- Herbs
- Paper towels and napkins with food residue
- Uncoated paper plates
- Pizza boxes (remove non-food items)
- Ice cream containers
- Paper egg cartons and paper bags
- Houseplants, cut flowers
- Dryer lint, hair, fur
- Chopsticks and popsicle sticks
- Small quantities of grass and leaves
What is NOT Accepted?
- Meat, fish, shellfish (including bones)
- Dairy products (cheese, butter, ice cream, etc.)
- Fats, oils, grease
- Facial tissues
- Styrofoam
- Pet waste
- Diapers
- Wrappers, compostable chip bags
- Plastic-coated paper plates or bowls
- Plastics of any kind, including bio-degradable plastics
- Milk cartons: Recycle with your regular recycling
- Waxed paper or waxed cardboard, aluminum foil or plastic wrap
Please recycle cardboard and clean aluminum foil with your regular recycling.
Benefits of collecting food scraps for recycling:
- Reduces household trash by about 23%. Food scraps are a large part of what people throw away.
- Reduces greenhouse gases - food scraps in the landfill create methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) as they decompose.
- Reduces the need for garbage disposals. By using garbage disposals to get rid of unwanted food, excess nutrients are sent to treatment plants. They are costly to process and remove (about 10 times more expensive than curbside collection and processing).
- Creates a useful product out of unwanted food scraps – compost is a great soil amendment that returns nutrients to gardens and produces healthy plants.
- Saves money. Howard County’s trash disposal contract will soon change and likely lead to higher trash disposal costs. Removing food scraps from trash reduces trash tonnages and therefore money spent on disposal.
- Keeps the food scraps local. Food scraps are processed locally into a soil amendment which also makes local jobs.
- Provides public awareness. Food scraps are a significant part of solid waste. Food scrap collection encourages public awareness about the amount of scraps generated and the potential to utilize the valuable resource. Recycling food scraps can make a huge difference by reducing trash disposal costs.
- Promotes opportunities for local business growth. Collecting food scraps encourages commercial compost facilities to develop in the area. This enables food scrap collection to be expanded throughout the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why collect food scraps separately?
To reduce waste and save money on disposal costs. Howard County residents could reduce trash sent to the landfill by 23%, simply by recycling their food scraps. Food scraps collected will be composted and turned into a soil amendment.
What will the cart look like and how big is it?
The dark green cart has a lid and wheels and is 39” tall x 20” wide x 23” deep or 35 gallons, about the same size a trash can. If this cart is not the right size for your household, contact us for options.
My household doesn’t generate many food scraps. Should I still participate?
Yes! Recycling even small amounts of food scraps reduces trash and helps to provide a good idea of how much food scrap is generated in the County. The purpose of this pilot program is to determine the feasibility of a County-wide program.
When will I get a cart and when will the program start?
Cart delivery will begin the week of September 12, 2011. Collection will start on the recycling day after you receive your cart.
Will curbside food scrap collection smell?
Please keep in mind you will be setting out the same material for collection; it will just be in a different container. Meat, fish and dairy products, often the most odor causing items, are not accepted for food scrap collection.
You can easily incorporate paper bags, pizza boxes, grass, leaves or baking soda to absorb liquids and reduce any smells. Rinsing and cleaning the cart may also help.
Do I have to cut everything into small pieces?
No, that is not necessary. The facility that processes the material can handle whole fruits and vegetables as well as small pieces.
Should I keep using my garbage disposal?
No, please do not. Putting food scrap into the garbage disposal will prevent us from getting a true picture of how much food scrap is generated by Howard County residents. Garbage disposal use also sends excess nutrients that are expensive to treat to the waste water treatment facility. Watch Bill Nye's quick video about garbage disposal use.
Will the 40-pound weight limit apply to my food scrap cart?
No, not for the county-issued cart. Additional containers should weigh less than 40 pounds.
You said no meat, fat or dairy. What about leftovers that contain meat, oil, butter or cheese?
Small amounts of these items that were used as an ingredient in a cooked meal such as spaghetti, pizza or fajitas can be included in the food scrap cart. However, meatballs or other easily removed meat, fish or dairy products should be placed in the trash.
Can I put household items like potted plants, cut flowers, as well as crackers, cereal, party leftovers, or old/stale food in my cart?
Can I use biodegradable bags to collect food scraps and then toss the whole thing in my cart?
No, please do not. You may use a biodegradable bag indoors, but please empty the bag into the cart. Paper bags are acceptable in the cart as long as they are not coated with plastic. Make an easy indoor bin liner out of newspaper.
Will the County provide an indoor container as well as the outdoor cart?
We understand that every home is different as far as space constraints and aesthetic concerns, so we will not provide an indoor collection container. A large butter tub or Tupperware container is all you need, but if you prefer a food scrap specific container, check online or your local stores.
How do I know if my paper plates are coated?
If you can easily tear the paper plate and you do not see a thin film of plastic along the edge of the tear, it can be added in with the food scrap. If you see a thin film of plastic on the plate, please place it in the trash. When in doubt, throw it out.
My neighbor doesn’t live in the pilot area, can he still participate?
Your neighbor can compost at home, but should not set food scraps at the curb. The County provides FREE backyard compost bins that they can use to compost all of the items on the Accepted List. Just make sure they mix in layers of yard debris to help the items break down.
Backyard Food Scrap Composting
Food scraps can be composted in your backyard along with your yard debris. Learn more about food scrap recycling on the EPA's Food Waste website.
Food Scrap Composting at Work
Food Scrap Composting at Events