Portage, Michigan, launches food scraps recycling pilot program

The city of Portage, Michigan, has partnered with My Green Michigan to debut a food scraps recycling pilot program, beginning the week of Jan. 6, 2025.

Portage residents will be able to drop off food scraps in a 64-gallon collection bin at one of 10 drop-off locations. My Green Michigan, a Dimondale, Michigan-based composting services provider, will empty collection bins every other Tuesday, beginning Jan. 21.

“Portage has always been committed to innovative ways to protect our environment,” City Manager Pat McGinnis says. “This pilot program is an exciting opportunity to reduce waste and create a more sustainable future for our community.”

The program, provided to Portage citizens at no additional fee, is tailored to convert food scraps into soil.

“My Green Michigan has a mission to prove that [by] working together, we can do enough to combat wastefulness,” My Green Michigan partner Cliff Walkington says. “My Green Michigan is thrilled to provide the city of Portage with our food waste recycling services, offering businesses, and now residents, a convenient and effective way to divert their food scraps to composting. We are proud to already have customers who compost with us in the area, and the addition of a drop-off program is a great way to improve recycling efforts and support sustainable businesses.”

Acceptable items include fruits; vegetables; coffee grounds, filters and tea bags; bread and grains; dairy products; meat and bones; and chemical-free paper towels and napkins. Biodegradable Products Institute- (BPI-) certified products will also be accepted.

The pilot program is set to run for one year, after which the city will evaluate the results and determine the future of the program.