FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 2, 2020
Contact: Heather Ellzey
Environmental Educator
Recycling & Trash Collection Division
479.718.7687
hellzey@fayetteville-ar.gov
City Now Accepts Compostable Food Waste at Two Drop-Off Locations
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— New year! New program! Starting January 2, 2020, the City will begin accepting residential Food Waste Drop Off. 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 going to the landfill.
The food waste collected through this program will be combined with the commercial food waste collection and processed into nutrient-rich compost available for purchase. The commercial food waste compost program began as a pilot program in 2016 with nine customers. Now, dozens of restaurants and grocery stores throughout the city have added the three-times-a-week service, in addition to recycling, to reduce their overall trash costs and materials sent to the landfill.
For residential collection, City staff recommends placing materials in a lidded container and dropping off once a week to reduce odors.
There is no charge to drop off residential food waste.
Drop-off locations and hours are:
Marion Orton Recycling Center
- 735 W. North Street (between Gregg and Leverett Avenues)
- Compostable food accepted Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 7 p.m. on Thursdays)
City Compost and Mulch Facility
- 1708 S. Armstrong Avenue
- Compostable food (and yard waste) accepted:
- Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- November – March: First Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon
- April – October: First and second Saturdays of the month from 8 a.m. to noon.
Acceptable food waste materials are:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Coffee grounds and tea with filters
- Consumable liquids
- Dairy and non-dairy (nut) items such as 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, wooden cocktail sticks
- Process Foods: pizza, cereal, chips, crackers, cooked meats, plate scraps
Please do not put the following materials in your compost, doing so will contaminate the mix. These items are not accepted:
- Raw meats (fish, poultry, pork, seafood, beef)
- Plastic bags, serve ware, utensils, twist-ties, rubber bands
- Wood, metal, glass or other non-food items
- Fats, oils, grease, non-consumable liquids, vegetable oil, lard
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.
The City of Fayetteville offers two types of high-quality compost for purchase; food waste compost is $35 per two-cubic-yard scoop and yard waste compost is $25 per two-cubic-yard scoop. Mulch is available for free to Fayetteville residents and $10 per two-cubic-yard scoop. Compost and mulch are available to residents and non-residents.
Visit www.fayetteville-ar.gov/compost from more information about the City’s compost and mulch programs or contact Heather Ellzey, the City of Fayetteville’s Environmental Educator, to learn more via phone 479-718-7687 or email hellzey@fayetteville-ar.gov.
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