Reduce, reuse, recycle … food waste composting?
Yes, food waste composting is another great way to recycle, and H.E.A.R.T. is offering a pilot drop-off program at Henrico County’s public-use areas to give residents another way to help the environment. These nutrient-rich “compostables” can be converted into useful materials for agriculture and landscaping, rather than unnecessary bulk waste added to landfills. In addition, food waste breaking down in the outdoors creates methane, which is harmful to the atmosphere.
This drop-off program differs from at-home composting. Residents will be able to compost meat and bone scraps as well as certified compostable plastics in addition to the more traditional items of home composting, such as veggies, cut flowers and eggshells. These materials will be processed into reusable soil amendment by our contracting partner NOPE. The finished product will not be available for residents.
So, drop off your food scraps at one of the two Henrico public use areas, and we will take care of the rest. It’s free and open to county residents only. No commercial or retail establishments may participate. Yard waste will continue to be collected at separate designated areas.
To kick off this program, H.E.A.R.T. and Keep Henrico Beautiful will hold a Pumpkin Composting Event from Nov. 1-8. Once Halloween is over, bring your pumpkins to get composted. Please remove lights and candles. No painted pumpkins will be accepted. Keep an eye out while you are there because you may even see the H.E.A.R.T. mascot Stewart the Turtle wandering around.
Food waste composting will continue Nov. 9 at both locations. Pumpkin and regular food waste composting facilities will be open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Springfield Road Public Use Area, 10600 Fords Country Lane
Charles City Road Public Use Area, 2075 Charles City Road
Information will be posted at both public use areas and on the H.E.A.R.T. website or call the Department of Public Utilities Division of Solid Waste at (804) 501-7277.
Have a happy autumn and have fun composting everyone!
Listen to the HEART podcast about residential drop-off composting.
