Virginia food scrap drop-off program expands

Residents of Chesterfield, Henrico and Richmond, Virginia, now have access to an expanded food scrap composting program through the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA).

The drop-off program is available at 22 sites, including convenience centers and public-use areas. New, 65-gallon purple carts have been stationed at the sites to collect residential food scraps and certified compostable materials.

“Central Virginia is entering its next era of recycling with the regional food scrap composting program,” CVWMA Executive Director Kim Hynes says. “We’re proud to offer our member jurisdictions a way to divert food waste from landfills and put it to beneficial use. Shockingly, food remains a huge contributor to municipal solid waste, making up about 25 percent of what’s in our nation’s landfills.”

Residents have been asked to use the compostable bags available at the kiosks to transport food scraps from home.

“Chesterfield County is excited to offer composting at our convenience centers for the first time to our residents through this new, regional program,” Chesterfield County Administrator Joe Casey says. “Composting is nature’s recycling and a great way to reduce waste going to our landfills. Every little bit adds up.”

Residential composting programs established by Richmond and Henrico in recent years are now being managed by CVWMA.

“The purple cart program initiated three years ago by the Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities has been incredibly popular with residents and a key factor in helping the city toward its sustainability goals,” Richmond Mayor Danny Avula says. “We look forward to watching this program grow under the CVWMA umbrella.”

“Henrico saw strong community interest in composting when we started a pilot project at our public-use areas last year, and we are pleased to see it grow as part of a regional program,” Henrico County Manager John A. Vithoulkas says. “We have full faith in our partners at CVWMA to take the reins on such an important project as they continue to seek circular solutions for all waste in the region.”

NOPE Compost Co., Henrico, Virgina, will service the drop-off sites weekly or semiweekly through a new contract with CVWMA.

Because the material is being processed at an industrial composting facility, residents can now compost meat, bones, food-soiled napkins and certified compostable cups, plates and utensils, as well as fruit and vegetable scraps.

“NOPE Compost is thrilled to be contributing to our local circular economy,” NOPE Compost Owner Marshall Hall says. “Every pound of food scraps we collect will be processed locally, transformed into nutrient-rich compost that will enrich local and regional soils.”