Food scraps are the residential waste products resulting from a residential kitchen and food preparation. It includes fruits, vegetables, proteins (fish, meat) and other food related items as listed.

 Fruits & vegetables  Meat & poultry  Fish & shellfish  Dairy products  Rice & grains  Eggshells  Chips & snacks  Nuts & seeds  Leftover, spoiled & expired food (cooked ok) Other items (if in doubt, ask before contaminating your food scrap recyclables):  Coffee grounds (paper filters ok)  Tea bags (no staples)  Napkins & paper towels (food spoiled only, no chemical cleaners)  Cut flowers & house plants  BPI-certified compostable bags.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

GET A STARTER KIT Food scrap recycling “starter kits” make this program easy. Kits are $20 each, include a 2 gallon countertop pail, a 6 gallon home storage and transportation pail, and one roll of 25 compostable bags, and can be obtained through Greenwich Green and Clean: https://greenwichgreenandclean.org/food-scrap-recycling/

COLLECT your food scraps in a kitchen collection container. Although not required, you may line the container with a compostable or paper bag - please no plastic bags. Unknotted bags are preferable. Compostable bags are available for purchase (25 bags for $2/roll) at Greenwich Green & Clean by appointment only (203-531-0006). If purchased elsewhere, bags must be BPI certified.

TRANSFER food scraps from the countertop pail once full to a larger bin for weekly storage. Most residents will fill the countertop pail 3-4 times per week. This larger bin can also be used for transportation of food scraps to Holly Hill. Anything that holds around 5-6 gallons and has a lid will work. It is recommended that food storage bins be kept indoors – either in the house or in the garage.

BRING your transportation bin to the Food Scrap Recycling drop-off site at Holly Hill to dispose of your food scraps as often as needed.

Check out Waste Free Greenwich and their information about food scrap recycling at: https://www.wastefreegreenwich.org/rot

RESTRICTIONS  No plastic bags, plastic packaging & wrappers. Plastic does not biodegrade & will contaminate compost. Use only BPI-certified compostable bags, paper bags or no bags.  No bio-plastic or compostable food service ware.  No baby, hand or cleaning wipes. They are synthetic, do not biodegrade and contaminate the compost.  No pet waste.  No “out of town” food scraps – material must be generated within the Town of Greenwich.  Residential participation only at this time – the program is not equipped to handle commercial quantities of food waste at this time.

FEES Food scrap drop off is FREE to town residents who have their Holly Hill permit.

Where is the food scrap drop off? Food scrap containers are located alongside the Trash Transfer Station building at the bottom of the hill, on the left side of the road. Please park in the residential parking area and you will see the toters and food scrap sign. Do not enter the trash building and use caution in this busy area!