City of Kalamazoo Launches Pilot Food Scrap Recycling Program
Published on April 22, 2025
The City of Kalamazoo is excited to announce the launch of a new pilot Food Scrap Recycling Program, now available to all city residents. This initiative aims to reduce the volume of organic waste sent to landfills and represents another step toward building a more sustainable, environmentally conscious Kalamazoo.
View Program Details
The pilot program, which runs through the end of 2025, gives residents a convenient way to recycle food scraps and other compostable materials. By keeping these materials out of landfills, the city hopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote healthier soil through composting.
“We’re always looking for ways to reduce waste and make it easier for residents to take action,” explained Chris Broadbent, solid waste coordinator for the City of Kalamazoo. “This pilot program gives people a simple way to keep food scraps out of the landfill and put them to better use through composting.”
Residents can collect their food scraps in a food-grade bucket with a lid. When the bucket is full (or every 7–14 days), they can bring it to a drop-off site and empty it into the green carts labeled for food scraps. Food scrap drop-off is currently available at:
- 322 E Stockbridge Ave, a central site, open to all city residents, 24/7 every day
- Edison Neighborhood Association, 816 Washington Ave
- Vine Neighborhood Association, 806 S Westnedge Ave
The site at 322 E Stockbridge Ave is always available to all residents. Carts at neighborhood locations are available during their business hours. More locations may be added during the pilot period. Residents interested in hosting a drop-off site should contact their neighborhood association.
The program accepts all kinds of food scraps and some other organic material, like fruits & vegetables; meat, seafood, and bones; dairy and eggshells; bread, nuts, grains; cut flowers & houseplants; coffee grounds, filters, tea bags; pizza boxes; and BPI-certified compostable products and soiled paper products.
Plastic bags or containers; regular paper or cardboard (unless soiled); pet waste; EPS foam/Styrofoam; and glass or metal are not accepted.
Residents are reminded not to place food scraps or compostable materials in curbside recycling carts.
City ordinance also permits residents to compost at home, allowing well-maintained compost piles. Compost tumblers are also a great option for at-home composting. Residents who are interested in maintaining a compost pile should check with their neighbors as a courtesy to make sure the placement and management will not impact other properties.
“Food waste may seem small, but it adds up quickly. When we keep it out of landfills, we can compost the materials, enrich our soils for future plants to grow, and make real progress toward a cleaner, healthier environment,” Broadbent added.
Complete program details, drop-off guidelines, and a map of locations can be found at www.kalamazoocity.org/FoodScraps.