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How to Prepare Food Scraps for Curbside Compost Pickup

Collect scraps in a small lidded container, check local rules for accepted materials and liners, and transfer them to the cart on pickup day.
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Collect scraps in a small, lidded kitchen container, check your local program’s rules for accepted items and liners, then empty the container into the designated cart and set it out as instructed. Bag rules and accepted materials vary by service, so do not assume a liner or food accepted in another city is allowed in yours.

1. Check your service’s rules before you start

Look up your municipality’s current accepted-material list and collection instructions. Programs differ on both food and packaging: Austin’s commercial processing guide, for example, lists meat, poultry, seafood, dairy and bones as accepted, but that does not mean every curbside service accepts them. Use your own program’s list rather than another city’s examples.

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Check the liner rule separately. “Compostable,” “biodegradable” and similar labels do not automatically mean a bag belongs in a food-scraps cart. Los Angeles Sanitation says to keep plastic and compostable bags out of its green bin. Boston allows specified options, including double-lined paper and bags bearing listed certifications. Sydney requires AS 4736-certified bags and offers newspaper as an alternative; it excludes plastic, degradable and generic biodegradable bags.

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2. Choose a small kitchen container

A countertop compost pail is convenient, but it is not required. A clean, small lidded container can hold scraps between trips to the curb. Los Angeles Sanitation also identifies reusable food-storage containers and coffee cans as alternatives. Use a liner only if your local service allows that exact type; otherwise, collect scraps loose or use a permitted paper option.

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3. Store scraps to manage odors

Empty the container regularly. If scraps need to wait or odors become a problem, keep them in the refrigerator or freezer. Boston recommends chilled storage and putting food waste out on collection day; Cambridge also recommends refrigeration or freezing in summer. For cart storage, Cambridge advises keeping its cart locked and shaded. Follow the instructions for your own cart and collection schedule.

4. Transfer scraps and set out the cart

  1. On collection day, empty the kitchen container into the designated organics cart, following the local rules for liners and accepted materials.
  2. Follow local directions for liquids. Sydney notes that excess liquid can make compostable bags break down faster; Austin says not to put liquids, fats, oils or grease in its organics cart.
  3. Close and secure the cart as directed. Cambridge instructs residents to lock its cart and set it out with trash and recycling on collection day.
  4. Place the cart at the required pickup location and time, keeping access clear as your service requires.

Local examples show why the rules matter

Service Bag guidance Storage or set-out detail
Los Angeles Sanitation Keep plastic and compostable bags out of the green bin; reusable food-storage containers and coffee cans can collect scraps in the kitchen. Not stated in the cited guidance.
Boston Public Works Allows specified options, including double-lined paper and bags bearing listed certifications. Store scraps in a refrigerator or freezer and put them out on collection day.
City of Sydney Use AS 4736-certified bags or newspaper; do not use plastic, degradable or generic biodegradable bags. Excess liquid can make compostable bags break down faster.
Cambridge, Massachusetts Provides a bag-based kitchen routine; check its current program instructions for the specific option. Keep the cart locked and shaded; refrigerate or freeze scraps in summer.

These examples are not interchangeable rules. Check your local service’s current guidance for accepted foods, liner types, storage and set-out requirements.

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Quick checklist

  • Use a clean, lidded kitchen container.
  • Verify accepted materials and bag rules with your local program.
  • Chill or freeze scraps if they need to wait, particularly in warm weather.
  • Transfer scraps to the designated cart, secure it and set it out according to the pickup instructions.

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