Discover Mayor Ballantyne’s New Curbside Food Waste Collection Pilot: A Sustainable Step Towards Cleaner Communities!

In an effort to enhance community life and meet climate goals, Somerville is launching a curbside food waste collection pilot program. Spearheaded by Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, this initiative works with Garbage to Garden to provide weekly food waste pickup to about 1,200 qualifying households in East Somerville until mid-2027. The goal is to explore how the city can broaden composting efforts in the future.

“Curbside composting is beneficial for everyone,” Mayor Ballantyne said. “It reduces garbage, minimizes odors, and decreases food sources for pests. Plus, it lowers our carbon footprint and transforms waste into valuable compost.” This pilot is just the beginning of modernizing waste management in Somerville.

Residents eligible for the program must live in buildings with six units or fewer and not have an active composting subscription. Those who participate will get a kitchen container, curbside bin, and educational materials—free of charge. Garbage to Garden will handle the weekly pickups on trash days.

The city aims to cut waste by 30% by 2030 and 90% by 2050, as outlined in the Zero Waste Plan. Interestingly, around 30% of municipal solid waste in Massachusetts comes from compostable materials. Incorporating this program aligns directly with these waste reduction goals.

According to the City’s Consumption-Based Emissions Inventory, food waste is the largest contributor to Somerville’s carbon emissions, even exceeding emissions from transportation and housing. This highlights that reducing food waste can significantly impact our carbon footprint.

Christine Blais, from the Somerville Office of Sustainability and Environment, shared, “Composting not only aids the environment but also enhances awareness of our consumption habits. Each instance of composting encourages residents to reflect on their actions toward climate change.” Such initiatives can inspire broader environmental efforts.

In the coming weeks, Somerville will share more on how residents can check their eligibility for the program. Stay tuned via the city’s social media or their website at somervillema.gov/foodwaste for updates.

About Garbage to Garden: This organization supports over 40,000 households, schools, and businesses across Maine and Massachusetts, making composting easy and accessible for everyone.

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