Food scraps make up about 25% of our waste stream, but we can change that by composting them instead of throwing them away. Composting allows food waste to break down into fertile organic matter and then used to enhance soil for growing plants and food. Make sure you have a small bin in your kitchen to collect food scraps and make a plan for how you want to dispose of them:

• Collect in an outdoor bin and Bedford residents may drop off at the Recycling Center or one of the new food scrap drop off sites located in Bedford Hills and Bedford Village
• Create a backyard compost pile
• Collect in an outdoor bin and sign up for weekly curbside pick up

If you create a backyard pile you should not include meat, fish, oils or bones and you may want to collect those items for drop off or curbside pick up. 

Bedford 2030 can set you up for food scrap recycling success. We sell compost kits and compostable bags and we have partners in area stores who will sell you an at-home composter at a discounted price.

People go hungry every day in Westchester, yet plenty of perfectly good food gets wasted. Organizations are working to make sure food goes to those who need it. Find out more about where you can donate non-perishables, excess food from events, or fruits and veggies from your garden; how to volunteer to glean food on a farm; or how to help organizations working with stores and restaurants to donate extra food.