Food scraps can be a big waste. The Natural Resource Defense Council estimates that 21% of the waste delivered to U.S. landfills is food. That means in 2018, the Lebanon landfill received 8,400 tons of wasted food.
The Lebanon Solid Waste Facility has been receiving food waste from Upper Valley institutions for composting for more than a decade. In 2018, the Lebanon Solid Waste Division composted nearly 600 tons of food scraps. Recently, a local hauler has started offering curbside collection of food scraps from homeowners which are then delivered to the Lebanon Solid Waste Facility.
The Future of Food Waste
The Lebanon Solid Waste Facility is looking to expand its waste diversion options to include a residential drop-off for food scraps. This is in response to the many residents that have been asking for this option. Several of our residents live in more densely populated areas or in apartments where composting food scraps is not an option.
Food Scraps Pilot Program
To make this effort a success, we are looking for 50 households to participate in a pilot program. The Food Scraps Pilot Program will aid our staff in determining the best way to manage this material. We hope to establish operational techniques to manage odors and vectors in order to produce a valuable product.
Participants will take part in the pilot program for 3 months starting January 15, 2020. They will be asked to track their waste, food scraps, and recyclables to determine the impacts of food on our waste system. Once the pilot program is complete, our staff will determine how food scraps will be managed.
How to Participate
To participate in this pilot program, please complete our Food Scraps Pilot Program sign-up form before January 10, 2019. The program is only open to Lebanon residents who are willing to commit to sorting household waste for 3 months.
Questions?
If you have questions about the pilot program or food waste disposal, please contact Marc Morgan, Lebanon Solid Waste Manager.