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This is not required, but some associations choose to provide the service. It is up to the association and residents to decide how they want to manage food scraps, whether that’s individually or collectively, via pick-up or on-site, perhaps near a community garden.

The State and CSWD always emphasize educational outreach, which is very effective in achieving compliance. However, the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) and CSWD both have enforcement authority. We prioritize the largest producers of food waste and respond to specific complaints.

Done correctly, compost rarely attracts bears—bird feeders more commonly attract bears. Likewise, if bears already get into your trash, they may also get into food scraps put out for pickup if done carelessly. Read this article on VT Composting in Bear Country for more info.

Chickens may be given any food scraps, including meat. Unless you’re feeding food scraps from your own house to your own pigs, feeding pigs is strictly regulated. See the VT Agency of Agriculture guidance for details.

Collecting, transporting and processing food scraps into compost takes money. Revenue from selling compost does not cover the costs, which include machinery, labor, fuel, and other compost ingredients, such as woodchips, that often must be purchased and mixed in with food scraps. As a government entity, CSWD puts all revenue back into our operations. We do not make any “profit.”

Like trash and recycling, service options and fees vary. Sometimes neighbors share a cart and the cost. Contact pickup service providers directly for terms and fees.

Food scraps can’t go in the trash in Vermont as of July 1, 2020 (Vermont Universal Recycling Law) and the Vermont Department of Health’s Vermont Rental Housing Health Code requires landlords to:

1. Assure arrangements are made for the removal of food scraps from rentals.
2. Provide durable and water-tight receptacles for food scraps that are stored outside.

Under the law, anyone who provides trash service must offer food scrap pickup to all commercial customers and to apartment buildings of four or more units unless another business provides this service in their area. Several food-scrap-only pickup services have also filled this need. Visit our pickup services page for a list of local service providers. This service will not be automatically provided by any hauling companies.

CSWD will soon be offering our popular backyard composting workshops. Sign up for The Digest, our email newsletter, for announcements. See also The Dirt on Compost, a guide to composting in your yard in Vermont, or on our composting page.

Fruit flies come into your home on fruit, whether you compost or not. To make a fruit-fly trap, pour a splash of cider vinegar or old wine in a jar, add a couple drops of dish soap, cover with stretch plastic wrap and poke tiny holes in the wrap with a toothpick or knife tip. Put the jar next to your food scrap container or your fruit bowl. If you don’t use plastic wrap, make a small paper funnel to direct flies down into the jar.

Empty your kitchen container at least once a week, keep a lid on it, and rinse or wash after you empty it. If you notice a smell, empty it more often and/or cover your scraps with a handful or two of sawdust, wood shavings, dry leaves, or other dry plant material to contain odors. Put newspaper or shavings in the bottom of the container to absorb liquids and make the container easier to clean.

Yes, but this strongly discouraged. Pipes and septic systems are not designed to handle large amounts of food scraps, particularly oils and grease, so you’re putting strain on your septic system or your community’s municipal sewer system. Plus, you’re still wasting valuable resources. Composting at home or via pickup or drop-off is a better option.

Food scraps are:

1. Parts of food that are typically discarded rather than eaten: peels, rinds, cores, eggshells, seeds, pits, bones, shells, coffee grounds and filters, loose-leaf tea, and fats/oils/grease, and
2. Food that was eaten but not finished: “plate scraps” or leftovers that went bad. Any type of food can become food scraps—bread, pasta, soup, vegetables, fruit, sauces, meat, fish, dairy, sweets, etc.

If you compost in your yard, the law allows you to put meat and bones in the trash so they don’t attract animals to your composting bin. If you get your food scraps picked up or bring them to a drop-off, you can include meat and bones with the rest of your food scraps.

Large yogurt or coffee tubs or any mid-size container with a lid will work. Some restaurants and grocery stores end up with extra buckets and lids that they will give away for free. Hardware stores and garden centers sell food-scrap collection containers as well.

You may use BPI Certified compostable bags–the BPI logo must be on the box–if you’re bringing your scraps to Green Mountain Compost (GMC) or a CSWD Drop-Off Center. You can also use a paper bag or newspaper to line your container. Compostable bags are not recommended for backyard systems since they don’t get as hot or “cook” as long as the giant GMC compost piles.

If it’s edible, we can compost it!

This includes:

• Fats and oil
• Meat and bones
• Fish and seafood, including shells
• Fruits & vegetables
• Eggs and egg shells
• Milk, cheese, and all other dairy products
• Bread and grains
• Coffee grounds and tea leaves
• Condiments (salad dressing, ketchup, etc.)

Click here for a full list of what is allowed in our Organics Recycling Facility.

If you have the space and time, you can manage a lot of food scraps and yard debris at home in a system that also produces compost for your lawn or garden!