Washington installs 30 food waste smart bins to support composting

The Department of Public Works (DPW) in Washington has installed 30 food waste “smart bins” across the district to support composting by providing drop-off locations for food scraps.

“Nationally, one-third of all food produced is being thrown away,” DPW Director Timothy Spriggs says. “By installing food waste smart bins across the district, DPW is expanding access to food waste diversion opportunities for all district residents, an important step in helping to divert 80 percent of waste from disposal to achieve D.C.’s zero waste goals.”

The food waste smart bins boast a rodent-proof design, according to DPW, which is expected to help reduce the pest population. Equipped with sensors that monitor fullness levels, the bins enable DPW to optimize collection schedules, reducing unnecessary pickups and vehicle emissions.

Residents assisted DPW in deciding where to site the 30 new smart bins. DPW hosted community engagement meetings in all eight wards to explain the program details and receive feedback on where residents thought the smart bins should be installed in their community. DPW says it also helped to address any community concerns about the program. Locations were ultimately chosen to ensure accessibility for all residents, particularly those residing in multifamily properties, such as apartment buildings and condominiums.  

The food waste smart bin program builds upon two existing residential compost initiatives in Washington, food waste drop-off sites and food waste collection.

Since 2017, residents have been able to drop off food waste to be composted by bringing it to one of twelve staffed drop-offs located at weekend designated farmers markets and community sites in the eight wards.

Similarly, Washington’s curbside composting pilot program, Compost D.C.: Food Waste Collection, offers weekly at-home organic waste collection for 9,000 DPW-serviced single-family households.

Organic materials collected as part of either of DPW’s Compost D.C. programs are processed into compost, a nutrient-rich soil amendment used by farmers, landscapers and gardeners, and sold at local hardware stores and garden centers.