Food scraps make up nearly 20% of all household waste disposed of in landfills in New York, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The city of Buffalo is taking steps to lower that number with the launch of a new program, which will allow Buffalonians to dispose of their food scraps separate on garbage day.

“As pioneers of Buffalo’s food scrap composting program over 10 years ago, we are thrilled to partner with Mayor Brown and the City of Buffalo to continue to increase access to composting and reduce waste, citywide!,” Urban Farmer Terra Dumas, co-owner of Farmer Pirates Compost, stated.

As part of the program, the city will more than 200 participating households brown food totes, information on what can be collected and compostable liners.

The totes will be emptied once a week and disposed of at Buffalo’s compost site.

Mayor Byron Brown says he hopes the program will help lower the city’s waste disposal costs and will help lower household waste as well.

“We’re excited to launch Scrap It! Curbside, a residential food scrap collection pilot program, which we hope will serve as a model for future expansion to households citywide," Mayor Brown said. "By diverting food scraps, we will continue to lower the City’s solid waste disposal costs, reduce household waste, and continue to utilize every means necessary to reduce what we put in the waste stream. I thank Buffalo’s Farmer Pirates Compost for teaming up with the City on this residential food scrap collection initiative which continues our efforts to increase recycling and better protect our environment.” 

For more information, visit BuffaloRecycles.org.