What is composting? 
Composting
is the practice of separating organic waste (food waste and more) from regular
land-fill bound household garbage so that it can be processed into a
nutrient-rich material (compost) that can improve soil quality. After preparing
or enjoying a meal, food scraps from your plate and cutting board (and more) can
go into a compost bin provided by the City. By separating your food scraps at
home, you are helping to send less waste to the landfill and instead recycle it
into compost so that we can create a healthier environment for everyone.
Why compost?
Rochester’s
Community-wide Climate Action Plan recommends the implementation of an organics collection and
composting program to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and, as a
result, reduce landfill greenhouse gas emissions (methane) that worsen climate
change. Through
composting, food scraps can be turned into nutrient-rich soil that can be used
for gardening and potting household plants that filter oxygen in our homes. The ROC City
Compost Pilot program is part of the City’s larger Food Waste Reduction,
Donation and Organics Recycling Program. The City of Rochester believes that
“Food Is Treasure”
and that we can turn “trash”
into treasure. Learn more about the City’s Food Waste Prevention, Donation and
Organics Recycling program and “Food Is Treasure” Food Waste Education Guide here.
How does the ROC City Compost Pilot program work?
1. Sign-up or call 311 to participate in the program.
UPDATE: The ROC City Compost Pilot program has reached capacity and is no longer accepting new sign-ups. Thank you to all those who signed up to participate in the pilot. We look forward to seeing you at one of the weekly drop-off locations.
2. You will
receive confirmation email along with a brief survey.
3. Complete
the survey to receive a toolkit of materials (program guide, acceptable
materials list, drop-off locations and schedule, small countertop bucket,
larger collection bucket, and biobag liners for your bucket).
4. Follow
the guidelines in your toolkit to collect food waste in your bucket.
5. Every
week, bring your large bucket of food scraps to one of the City’s drop-off
locations (see below). New: Drop-off locations open on Wed., July 14 and Sat., July 17.
6. At the
drop-off location, City staff will sign you in, weigh your bucket of food
waste, empty it and hand it back to you so that you can continue to collect
food waste and drop-off on a weekly basis. The collected food waste will be
transported to a processing facility to be recycled into compost.
Drop-off locations and schedule:
Once you
have signed up for the program and received your toolkit of materials, starting
on July 14 and July 17
you may drop-off your food waste at the following locations and times on a weekly basis.
Cobbs Hill Park
Parking lot
by Lake
Riley Lodge
100 Norris
Dr. Map
Saturdays 9am-noon
Wednesdays
1-4pm
Genesee
Valley Park
Parking lot
by Sports
Complex
131 Elmwood
Ave. Map
Saturdays
1-4pm
Wednesdays 9am-noon
Click here to download the ROC City Compost Flyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more info on the City's recycling program click here.
Composting Webinar Series
The City of Rochester has partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County to provide a webinar series.
Webinar 1: Why Compost? (Link to zoom recording)
Webinar 2: Basics of Composting (Link to zoom recording)
Visit http://monroe.cce.cornell.edu/horticulture/compost-resources
to learn more about the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County’s
composting resources.
Questions?
Email us your questions here!
