Are You Ready for Vermont's July 1 Food Scrap Ban?

Vermont's food scraps ban starts July 1. Here are a couple of tips and resources for those who aren't quite ready for the Universal Recycling Law.  You can either compost yourself, store your scraps and take them to your local Waste Management District drop off location, or hire someone to take your scraps off your hands.

Storing Your Scraps

Whichever method you use, you'll need to save your food scraps and compost until you're ready for transport. There are dozens of countertop options for those with limited space. Depending on your home aesthetic, you can use anything from a 5-gallon bucket to a stainless steel compost bin!

Other options include:

• Hinge top glass jar
• Used coffee can
• Used paint or detergent container
• Tupperware
• Take out containers

There are plenty of options out there. You'll want to have a container with a lid if it will be a few days before emptying the bin. If you're limited on counter space, store your scraps in a bag and leave them in the freezer! If you use a paper bag, you can simply drop the entire bag at the curb for pickup or take it and leave it at a drop off location.

Compost Yourself

Compost is incredibly beneficial for your vegetable and flower garden. Don't have one? Now's a great time to start growing your green thumb. Beyond the benefits of removing the waste from landfills, compost provides fantastic nutrients for your lawn and garden.

Because meat, bones, and grease don't breakdown quickly, Vermont law allows you to throw these items in the trash.

Beyond your countertop compost bin, you're going to want to invest your time or money into a compost container. Options range from tumblers and pre-built composters to home-made pallet bins or pits and trenches.

Empty your countertop scrap bin into your outdoor container every few days. Every time you empty one bucket of scraps add three buckets of dry brown compost to keep your pile in balance. Browns include dead plants, leaves, sticks, straw, and hay. Most households won't have enough scraps to get to complete efficiency, but after six to nine months, you should have a healthy container of compost to add to your lawn or garden next spring.

Check out this helpful guide from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation!

Drop Off Locations

Take a look at the current drop off locations for Northwest Vermont. You can explore the Vermont Department of Natural Resources map here for more!

All Cycle Waste, Inc. Transfer Station
220 Avenue B
Williston, 05495

ARCC (Additional Recyclables Collection Center)
540 North Main St
Barre, 05641

Burlington Drop Off - CSWD
339 Pine Street
Burlington, 05401

CV Landfill Transfer Facility
418 U.S. 2
East Montpelier, 05651

DJ's Convenience
378 East Montpelier Rd
Montpelier, 05602

Essex Drop Off - CSWD
218 Colchester Road
Essex, 05451

Georgia Recycling Center
158 Morse Dr
Georgia, 05454

Grand Isle Transfer Station
22 Hanson Lane
Grand Isle, 05458

Hinesburg Transfer Station - CSWD
907 Beecher Hill Road
Hinesburg, 05461

Lamoille District Transfer Station
832 Cochran Road
Morrisville, 05661

Lamoille District Transfer Station
370 Mountain Road
Stowe, 05672

Milton Drop Off - CSWD
36 Landfill Road
Milton, 05468

Monkton Town Drop Off
4047 States Prison Hollow Rd
Monkton, 05469

North Hero Drop Off
362 West Shore Road
North Hero, 05474

Northfield Transfer Station & Recycling Depot
69 Dog River Rd
Northfield, 05663

Richmond Drop Off - CSWD
80 Rogers Lane
Richmond, 05477

South Burlington Drop Off - CSWD
87 Landfill Road
South Burlington, 05403

Waitsfield Transfer Station, Inc.
6911 Main Street
Waitsfield, 05673

Williston Transfer Station -  CSWD 
1492 Redmond Rd
Williston, 05495

Hire A Company

If you want the convenience of placing your food scraps on the curb with your rubbish and recycling, give your current hauler a call to set up a curbside pickup.

You can review a list of Vermont Food Scrap Haulers here.

See more FAQs for the Vermont Universal Recycling Law