Municipalities with Food Waste Diversion Programs (NH)

NRRA receives requests from municipal members who are interested in hearing about members with current food scrap composting programs. They want to know where to start, how to survey their community, how to get their residents involved, and how to get the decision-makers on-board.  We hope that the communities below can serve as an example to other municipalities who need to know where to start to set up their own food scrap composting programs. Please check out their resources and reach out with questions.

Food Waste Composting is mandatory in Vermont. Check out the VT Department of Environmental Conservation website for details.

 

New Hampshire Municipalities with Food Scrap Composting Programs

Amherst, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Food waste diversion program offered at transfer station, processed offsite through Vanguard Renewables

Bedford, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Onsite collection at transfer station, processed offsite through Renewal Compost

Bedford residents can bring their compost material, in a compostable paper or starch-based (green) bag, to the Transfer Station free of charge. There are large blue bins located next to the Solid Waste Building and the Recycling Center for disposal.

Bow, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Pilot program with Renewal Compost; drop-off at the Bow Community Center.

Beginning July 12, 2023, the Town of Bow is offering residents the opportunity to drop off food scraps for composting.  There are two 65-gallon compost bins located outside of the Bow Community Center (Knox Road side).  The bins are collected and emptied weekly (usually on Tuesdays) by Renewal Garden and Compost. 

Brookline, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Onsite composting of vegetable scraps (no meat or dairy)

Dover, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Drop-off at the Recycling Center, composted off-site by Mr Fox Composting

Residents can put their composting into 64-gallon totes at the Recycling Center, located between the corrugated cardboard bin and the used book building. The composting bins are available anytime the Recycling Center is open: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Durham, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Drop-off at the Recycling Center, composted off-site by Mr Fox Composting

To promote food waste composting, residents are welcome to compost materials at the Transfer Station. Six large toters stand along the entrance to the Transfer Station. Compostable bags are required for depositing your compost.  Our compost is picked up weekly by Mr. Fox. If it used to be alive it is compostable.  All items should be bagged in compostable bags (available at local grocery stores and online) or brown paper bags before being placed in the toters at the Transfer Station.

Exeter, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Drop-off at the Transfer Station, composted off-site by Mr Fox Composting

The Town of Exeter is working with Mr. Fox Composting to collect compostable materials at the Transfer Station (Cross Road). There are 64-gallon covered carts dedicated to food waste composting. Residents are required to provide their own container (pail/bucket) which can be purchased at any local hardware or home improvement store. Compostable paper or starch-based (green) bags provided by the resident are optional. The Town is not selling buckets or bags at this time. There is NO charge to participate in the Food Waste Composting program. Plastic bags, biodegradable bags, and foam are NOT allowed. All acceptable items for commercial composting can be placed in the same container.  

Franconia, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Onsite collection at transfer station, processed offsite through Meadowstone Farm

Residents can drop food waste off at the transfer station in the black and green compost bin free of charge. Food waste is used as chicken feed and for composting.  

  • Address: Rt 116 Easton Valley Rd. Franconia, NH 03580
  • Phone: (603) 823-5311

Hampton, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Drop-off at the Transfer Station, composted off-site by Mr Fox Composting

Town Residents may bring compost material (no more than 5 gallon pails/buckets), for no charge, to the Transfer Station to be disposed of in dedicated barrels which will be collected by Mr. Fox Composting and processed off-site for reuse.

Hanover, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Drop-off at the Lebanon landfill

Thanks to a new program by the City of Lebanon, area residents can take their food scraps to the Lebanon landfill where they will be composted and used for onsite erosion control. This use of local resources helps avoid the use of virgin soil products and increases landfill capacity. Participation requires a permit. Appropriate disposal bags to line the container are also required.

Hollis, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Vegetable scraps are accepted for composting at the transfer station.

Lebanon, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Drop-off at the Lebanon landfill

The Lebanon Solid Waste Facility offers a Food Waste Drop-Off Program. Your food scraps will be composted and used onsite for erosion control. This activity helps avoid the use of virgin soil products and has a huge benefit on landfill capacity.  Starting in 2023, it is free for households! Obtain a Lebanon solid waste permit and then bring your food scraps to the solid waste facility. You will need to show your permit to the attendant. Place your food scraps in the blue  food waste dumpster. Make sure to only bring compostable materials and make sure they are bagged in either paper or compostable plastic bags.

Lee, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Food waste is accepted at the transfer station and is processed off-site through Mr. Fox.

Littleton, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Onsite collection at transfer station, processed offsite through Meadowstone Farm

Residents can drop food waste off at the transfer station in the black and green compost bin free of charge. Food waste is used as chicken feed and for composting.  

  • Address: 1213 Mount Eustis Rd. Littleton, NH 03561
  • Phone: (603) 444-1447

Milford, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Drop-off at the Recycling Center in the food Composting area left after the Still Good Shed.

Residents can put their food compost onto the pile uphill from the Still Good Shed. It is the first pile on the left. The other two larger piles for leaf and grass composting. No bags, utensils or k-cups that are labeled 'compostable' please.  The food pile is turned and covered with leaves daily. The composting area is open anytime the Recycling Center is open: Tuesday 8 am-8 pm, Wednesday 8 am -noon; Thursday 11 am -8 pm, Friday 8-noon and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

New London, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Onsite collection at transfer station, processed offsite through Renewal Compost

New London residents participating in the composting pilot program can bring their compost material, in a compostable paper or starch-based (green) bag, to the Transfer Station free of charge. 

Pelham, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Onsite collection at transfer station, processed offsite through Vanguard Renewables

Collection barrels are located on the recycling side of the transfer station. No meat, bones, trash, eggshells, or glass.

Portsmouth, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Drop-off at the Recycling Center, composted off-site by Mr Fox Composting

A food waste drop-off area is located at the Recycling Center and is available to Portsmouth residents during normal operational hours. This service is maintained by local company Mr. Fox Composting.

Rye, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Food waste is accepted at the transfer station in the bins next to the trash hopper. It is picked up and processed off-site through Mr. Fox.

Somersworth, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Drop-off at the Recycling Center, composted off-site by Mr Fox Composting

Food composting is available for Somersworth residents at the Public Works facility. The program allows residents to bring their eligible food scraps to a special Recycling Toter. The Compost drop off is located near the cardboard recycling containers. The City of Somersworth has partnered with Mr. Fox Composting to provide residents with a no-cost, composting option to divert waste and tonnage from the solid waste stream that gets land filled. Mr. Fox Composting removes the food scraps on a weekly basis.

Washington, NH

Food Waste Diversion Program: Drop-off at the Transfer Station and composted on site

Washington residents can bring in food waste and scraps (NO meat, bones, or fat) to the transfer station to be composted. Leaf and yard waste (plant and grass clippings) is also accepted into the same composting bin. NO animal waste or cat litter. Branches and tree limbs are accepted in another area of the transfer station, but not in the compost pile. 

Composting & Food Waste
Information Sheet