Composting

The City of Watertown has a partnership with Black Earth Compost (BEC)! There are two options for food scrap collection for residents: 1) FREE curbside collection program and 2) Community drop off bins.

Food scraps and other organic materials collected by BEC will be brought to their compost facilities and processed into nutrient dense finished compost. Finished compost will be available for residents at events hosted by the DPW in the spring.

Diverting food waste out of the waste stream is part of Watertown’s continued effort to achieve the 2030 Massachusetts Waste Reduction Goals. These goals include the reduction of “…disposal statewide by 30 percent (from 5.7 million tons in 2018 to 4 million tons in 2030) over the next decade. It sets a long-term goal of achieving a 90 percent reduction in disposal to 570,000 tons by 2050.” -Mass.gov Reducing barriers to entry, such as the financial cost for residents, allows Watertown to offer curbside compost collection to residents who would not be able to participate previously. Increasing the total number of residents that are diverting food waste brings Watertown one step closer to decreasing its overall waste stream. Learn more about the 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan.

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Compostable materials that can go into Black Earth Compost bins (curbside and drop off bins)

Food Waste 

  • Coffee Grounds & Filters
  • Eggs & Egg Shells
  • Meat & Seafood (incl. bones, shells, & raw)
  • Lobster Shells (makes the compost rich)
  •  Fruits & Veggies (incl. stems, skins, pits, seeds, corn cobs, fruit from trees) (stickers removed)
  • Dairy (cheese, yogurt, etc.)
  • Pasta, Grains & Bread
  • Cookies, Cake & Candy
  • Nuts & Coconut Shells
  • Cooking Oil & Grease (Solid fat place directly in the bin.)

Household Items

  • Wood (toothpicks, popsicle sticks, chopsticks, sawdust, small wood fruit containers)
  • Stove, Grill & Fireplace Ash (please tie off compostable bag)
  • Wine Corks (cork, not plastic!)
  • Pet Food
  • Pet Waste from Rabbit, Chicken, Guinea Pig, Hamster & Bird (incl. bedding) (no dog or cat) ● HAIR, FUR, FEATHERS (human & animal)
  • House Plants
  • Pumpkin (remove candle and decorations, one per pick up, place on top of bin)

Food Soiled Paper & Compostables

  • Clean paper and cardboard are better recycled. We take the following items that are food soiled, but not chemical or cleaner soiled.
  • NAPKINS & PAPER TOWELS (incl. bleached) (used on food or w/ organic certified household cleaner)
  • COMPOSTABLE TABLEWARE: CUPS, PLATES, UTENSILS, ETC. (MUST be certified compostable*)
  • EGG CARTONS & PAPER TOWEL TUBES
  • NEWSPAPER for wrapping food (recycle otherwise)
  • CARDBOARD Pizza Boxes (please recycle first if accepted in your town)