1. Reduces waste. Food scraps make up almost a quarter of our waste stream and are one the most expensive and heaviest components of the municipal solid waste stream. As residents separate food waste from trash, they become aware of how much food they toss, prompting them to change habits and to buy less.

2. Combats pollution & climate change. Diverting food scraps, which would otherwise end up in incinerators and landfills, prevents pollution and methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

3. Saves money.  Food scraps are wet and heavy, decreasing the efficiency of incinerators. Removing food scraps from our waste stream reduces tipping fees charged for trash disposal and incineration.

4. Produces a beneficial, ecofriendly product. Food scraps are processed into compost, a nutrient rich soil amendment that prevents erosion, assists in stormwater management, improves soil health and promotes plant growth. Composting produces a useful and valuable product that gives back to our nutrient life cycle, resulting in cleaner soil, water and air.

5. Creates jobs and promotes local self reliance. Food scraps are processed locally at New Milford Farms in Litchfield County, providing jobs and other local economic benefits.

The drop-off food scrap recycling pilot is voluntary and free to all Greenwich residents. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. COLLECT your food scraps in a kitchen collection container. Although not required, you may line the container with a BPI-certified compostable bag or paper bag. Please no plastic bags; they do not break down and contaminate the final product.

2. TRANSFER food scraps from the countertop pail once full to a larger bin for weekly storage. Most residents will fill the countertop pail 3-4 times per week. This larger bin can also be used for transportation of food scraps to Holly Hill. It is recommended that food storage bins be kept indoors – either in the house or in the garage. Food scraps may be also be frozen for convenience.

3. BRING your transportation bins to a Food Scrap Recycling drop-off site (see locations below) to dispose of your food scraps as often as needed.

Currently, there are three collection sites for dropping off food scraps for recycling. In spring 2026, the Town will introduce smart units at Binney Park and Cos Cob Park.

1) Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility (Holly Hill Lane, Greenwich)

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 7 am - 2:30 pm; Saturday 7 am -12 noon. Permit required for entry.

The designated drop-off location is next to the trash building. Follow the traffic flow through the residential trash and recycling areas. If you have only food scraps, you can bypass the trash/recycling area, following signs to the trash building. At the bottom of the hill, veer left toward the trash building. Do not enter the commercial entrance to the building. Park in designated spaces. Toters are located in the shed adjacent to the waste motor oil drop-off area.  

Please be patient and careful when waiting in the line of traffic. It is highly recommended that residents visit the facility for food scrap drop off during weekdays rather than Saturday to avoid higher capacity times.  

2) Round Hill Community Church (395 Round Hill Road, Greenwich):

Wednesdays 10 am - 12 noon

Drop off at the Community House parking lot (south side of building).

3) Living Hope Community Church (38 West End Avenue, Old Greenwich):

November - May 21: Wednesdays 12 noon - 2 pm only

May 28 - November: During Old Greenwich Farmer’s Market, Wednesdays 2:30 - 6 pm only

** volunteers are on hand at satellite locations on Wednesdays to answer questions and for kit sales **

ALL FOOD, including:

Fruits & vegetables (remove stickers, bands & ties)

Meat & poultry (bones ok)

Fish & shellfish (shells ok)

Dairy products

Rice & grains

Eggshells

Chips & snacks

Nuts & seeds

Leftover, spoiled & expired food (cooked ok)

OTHER ITEMS

Coffee grounds (paper filters ok)

Tea bags (no staples)

Napkins & paper towels (food spoiled only, no chemical cleaners)

Cut flowers & house plants

Paper or BPI-certified compostable bags

QUESTIONS? Email wastefreegreenwich@gmail.com

NO plastic bags, plastic packaging & wrappers. Plastic does not biodegrade & will contaminate compost. Use only BPI-certified compostable bags, paper bags or no bags.

NO bio-plastic or compostable food service ware. This includes plates, utensils, cups and other “compostable” packaging.

NO shredded paper. Please drop shreds at the designated collection container at Holly Hill adjacent to the office trailer.

NO baby, hand or cleaning wipes. They are synthetic, do not biodegrade and contaminate the compost.

NO pet waste.

Although they are not required to participate, food scrap recycling “starter kits” make the process easy. Kits are $20 each (cash or checks payable to “Greenwich Recycling Advisory Board”) and include one 2-gallon countertop pail, one 6-gallon home storage and transportation bin, one roll of 25 compostable bags and a “how to” guide.

Kits are available for sale at the following locations:

1) Round Hill Community Church (395 Round Hill Road, Greenwich): Wednesdays at 10 am - 12 noon.

2) Living Hope Community Church (38 West End Avenue, Old Greenwich): Wednesdays at 12 noon - 2 pm only November - May and at 2:30 - 6 pm after June - October during the Old Greenwich Farmer’s Market.

3) By appointment at Greenwich Green & Clean, 113 Pemberwick Road, Greenwich. Please call 203-531-0006 to arrange sale.

4) Greenwich Botanical Center, 130 Bible Street, Cos Cob. Monday–Friday 9 AM–4 PM; Closed Saturday and Sunday.

The collected food scraps are picked up by an organics hauling company and transported to an authorized industrial composting facility, New Milford Farms about an hour north of Greenwich. There the food scraps are mixed with other organic material in long, narrow rows called windrows to break down over time. Microbes decompose the material, with regular turning of the piles to introduce oxygen, regulate temperature and manage moisture, generally turning waste into compost in 16+ weeks.

If your food waste smells, especially during hotter months, follow these tips:

• Line the bottom of food waste containers with a generous amount of newspaper or shredded paper, which will help absorb moisture.

• Rinse your container between uses.

• Store food scraps in the freezer or refrigerator until the next drop-off.

The MetroKEY app is downloadable from Google Play Store and Apple App store. There is no charge for the app. Currently these are the only platforms we support.

Please check your Junk or Spam box for an email from metroKey. 

First, metroKey will ask you to verify your email.

Then, please allow up to 48 business hours for your account to be activated.

When you arrive at the bin, FIRST make sure your phone Bluetooth is turned on.  Then, when you open the MetroKEY app your locations should appear.

After using the metroKey app to access the bin, you can either:

1. Manually open and hold the lid to empty your food scraps

2. Use the foot pedal to open the lid and KEEP the pedal depressed in order to keep the lid open while emptying your food scraps