October 23, 2024
Dartmouth, Massachusetts – The Town of Dartmouth and the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District are partnering with Black Earth Compost to facilitate a new curbside food scrap collection program that can help reduce household waste by up to 30%. Residents who choose to participate will pay a fee for this curbside service. Black Earth Compost will collect fruit peels, bones, and other food scraps and turn it into nutrient-rich compost that can be used to grow more food instead of sending it for disposal to the Crapo Hill landfill. The collection service is currently available in a part of South Dartmouth. Interested residents in other parts of Dartmouth can pre-register to express interest in bringing the collection service to their neighborhood. A minimum number of residents must participate for this service to start.
Dartmouth residents who pay for this service will have their food scraps picked up at their home by Black Earth Compost, for a fee, either once a week or every other week. The curbside food scrap collection program is an alternative to the free food waste drop-off program at the Dartmouth Transfer Station and to composting at home with a backyard compost bin.
The curbside food scrap collection service is currently available in the area south of Russells Mills Road/Cove Road and includes Padanaram. Some of the main streets within the area include Elm Street, Dartmouth Street, Prospect Street, Rockland Street, and Sol E Mar Street.
Residents in North Dartmouth and the rest of South Dartmouth can pre-register to express interest in the program. Once there are enough pre-registrations in specific parts of the Town, Black Earth will offer service there. Interested households are not required to be SMART Program customers.
The cost for weekly pickup is $20.99 per month or $114.99 for 6 months of service. The cost of every other week pickup is $16.99 per month or $89.99 for 6 months of service. The program follows a tiered pricing structure; the fees go down as more customers register.
The Refuse District will sponsor starter kits for the first 50 new participants who are SMART Program customers. This includes new customers in the currently active service area in South Dartmouth and new customers in areas where Black Earth adds collection service. The free starter kit includes a 13-gallon wheeled curbside cart and one roll of BPI-certified compostable bags to line the cart ($36.00 value). The free starter kit will be delivered by Black Earth Compost. In addition, the District will make available, at no charge to SMART Program customers, a 2-gallon kitchen bin and a roll of BPI-certified compostable bags to line the kitchen bin. Dartmouth residents who are not part of the SMART Program will pay Black Earth a one-time fee of $36.00 for a 13-gallon wheeled curbside cart and one roll of BPI-certified compostable bags to line the cart.
Customers also will receive a voucher for a one cubic foot bag of finished compost each spring, redeemable at participating garden centers.
Examples of what is accepted in the program include fruits and veggies; coffee grounds and filters; eggshells; meat and seafood; lobster shells; pasta, grains, and bread; food soiled napkins and paper towels; certified compostable food service ware e.g., plates, cups, utensils; nut and coconut shells; and pet fur. For a full list of what’s accepted, please visit https://blackearthcompost.com/whats-compostable/.
Black Earth Compost collects food scraps from over 100 cities and towns in Eastern Massachusetts and turns it into nutrient-rich compost for use on local farms and backyard gardens.
Residents in the active service area and interested residents in the rest of Dartmouth can register/pre-register at BlackEarthCompost.com.
For more information, call the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District at (508) 979-1493, or email Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org.