Composting without curbside pickup
Find a food scrap drop-off program in your city
Hundreds of U.S. cities run free or low-cost programs where you can drop off your food scraps to be composted — no curbside service required. We cover what to bring, where to go, and how to sign up.
Most people who want to compost assume they need a backyard or a curbside bin. They don't. Across the country, cities, counties, nonprofits, and community gardens run food scrap drop-off programs — places where you collect your scraps at home, then drop them off weekly or whenever it's convenient.
The catch: these programs are scattered across .gov pages, nonprofit sites, and buried FAQ sections. What's accepted varies by program. Hours change seasonally. Some programs require registration. Others are open 24/7 with a smart bin and an app.
This site pulls that information together in one place — city by city, in plain English.
Not sure which option is right for you?
Answer five quick questions about where you live and what you compost. We'll point you toward the right type of program — and your city's guide.