The Food Waste Drop-off Program at the Dartmouth Transfer Station has diverted 7,100 pounds of food waste in the first three months! This program helps participants reduce waste and purchase fewer orange SMART program trash bags. Dartmouth residents dropped off 1,980 pounds of food waste in July, 2,720 pounds in August, and 2,400 pounds in September. This food waste was composted.
鈥淎bout 20% of what residents dispose of is food waste. This program helps residents reduce waste at home, save money by using fewer orange SMART program trash bags, and keep food waste out of the Crapo Hill Landfill,鈥� said Timothy Barber, Director of the Town of Dartmouth鈥檚 Department of Public Works.
Given the popularity of the program, the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District is providing 100 additional starter kits for new participants. In addition, Refuse District staff will hand out rolls of BPI certified compostable bags at scheduled times (see below) starting October 8, near the food waste carts at the Dartmouth Transfer Station.
Starter Kits
SMART Program participants who did not pick one up in the first round, may pick up a starter kit, while supplies last, at the Dartmouth Department of Public Works, 759 Russells Mills Road, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proof of residency is required. Each kit includes a kitchen counter bin, roll of compostable bags, and a 5-gallon bucket for transporting the accepted waste to the Dartmouth Transfer Station. Here鈥檚 how to use your starter kit:
- Find a spot for your kitchen bin. Line it with a BPI certified compostable bag.
- Fill the kitchen bin with accepted materials (see below for details).
- When the container is almost full, tie off the compostable bag and place it into the 5-gallon bucket.
- When the 5-gallon bucket is almost full, take it to the Dartmouth Transfer Station.
The Dartmouth Transfer Station is at 976 Russells Mills Road. The hours are Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. A transfer station permit is required to use the facility. Items accepted for this program include all unpackaged food, bones, and coffee grounds, for example, fruits, vegetables, peels, meat, chicken bones, seafood shells, eggshells, dairy, breads, grains, and baked goods. The food can be in any condition or past its expiration date. This unpackaged food can be loose, or in BPI certified compostable bags. Visit bpiworld.org for more information on BPI.
Materials not accepted include packaged foods, plastic bags, produce stickers, cleaning chemicals, diapers, glass, pet waste, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, plates, cups, utensils, recycling, trash, and yard waste. If you don鈥檛 have a starter kit, you can put food in any container such as a bowl and line it with a BPI certified compostable bag. Or don鈥檛 line it all. Any bucket will work to transport the food waste to the Dartmouth Transfer Station. Extra rolls of BPI certified compostable bags are available at local stores and online.
Giveaway of Compostable Bags
The Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District is encouraging participation in the program by giving out rolls of BPI certified compostable bags, while supplies last. Dartmouth residents dropping off food waste at the Dartmouth Transfer Station will have a chance to receive a roll of 10 BPI certified compostable bags. Refuse District staff will be at the Dartmouth Transfer Station, near the food waste carts on the following dates and times: Tuesday, 10/8/24, 9-10am, Thursday, 10/17/24, from 2-3pm, Tuesday, 10/22/24, from 12-1pm, and Saturday, 11/2/24,聽from 10-11am.