Food Waste / Compostables Drop-Off

Collect your own compostable food waste and bring it to one of the City Food Waste Drop off locations!

The City is working hard to meet an important goal of diverting at least 40% of all waste sent to the landfill by 2027. Composting is essential to this goal because food waste makes up 18% of the total waste Fayetteville sends to the landfill.

The dropped off food waste will be combined with the commercial food waste collection and processed into nutrient-rich compost available for purchase. For residential collection, City staff recommends placing materials in a lidded container and dropping off once a week to reduce odors.

Items Accepted

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Coffee grounds and tea with filters
  • Consumable liquids
  • Diary: milk, cheese, yogurt
  • Bread, dough, bakery items, pasta, grains
  • Eggs and egg shells
  • Food-soiled paper: paper bags, paper towels, paper napkins,
  • Cooked meats and fish: shells, bones, wooden skewers, toothpicks
  • Processed foods: pizza, cereal, chips, crackers, cooked meats, plate scraps
  • BPI Certified Compostables- clearly labeled

Items NOT Accepted

  • Raw meats (fish, poultry, pork, seafood, beef)
  • Plastic bags, plastic single use serveware, utensils, twist-ties, rubber bands
  • Waxed cardboard boxes, mixed paper
  • Wood, metal, glass or other non-food items
  • Fats, oils, grease, non-consumable liquids, vegetable oil, lard
food waste compost receptacle

Click image to enlarge (Opens in new tab)

3 steps to a successful food waste drop off: open lid, deposit food waste, close lid. Then drop off!

Drop-off Locations and Hours

There is no charge to drop off residential food waste.

Food Waste and Yard Waste Drop-off 

City of Fayetteville Compost Site
1708 S. Armstrong Avenue
Tuesday and Thursday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

November-March: First Saturday 8 a.m. - Noon

April-October: First and second Saturdays 8 a.m. - Noon

Recycling and Food Waste Drop-off ONLY (no yard waste)

Marion Orton Recycling Center
735 West North Street
Drop-off available 24/7

Happy Hollow Recycling Center
1420 S. Happy Hollow 
Drop-off available 24/7

Food Waste Drop-off ONLY (no yard waste)

Margaret's Food Truck
704 Washington Avenue
Drop-off available 24/7

Trinity United Methodist Church
1021 W Sycamore Street  
Drop-off available 24/7

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
2925 Old Missouri Road
Drop-off available 24/7

Buy compost from the City

The City of Fayetteville offers two types of high-quality compost for purchase: food waste compost and mulch, both of which are available to residents and non-residents. 

For pricing information, contact Recycling and Trash by phone at 479-575-8398, or contact the Compost office at 479-444-3479 during operating hours: Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Download our composing brochures:

What happens to food waste in the land fill?

When organic materials, such as food and yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, brush, etc.), rot in the landfill – it breaks down anaerobically (without oxygen) and creates large amounts of methane. This flammable gas is the same as emitted through the production of coal, oil and natural gas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), methane accounted for 10% of United States greenhouse gas emissions in 2017. Greenhouse gas (Ghg) traps heat within the Earth’s atmosphere and contributes to climate change.