Raleigh Drop-offs
A community that builds its soil, builds its future.
Did you know…
- According to the 2019 Waste Characterization Study (See pages 28-30) about 41% of our landfill is made of divertible, compostable materials.
This causes two problems:
1. Landfilled organic materials emit carbon dioxide and methane, the latter having four times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide.
2. Wake County landfill is projected to reach capacity by 2040, may result in higher waste disposal taxes or construction of a polluting incinerator.
To combat these issues Toward Zero Waste has made it their mission to expand composting access in Raleigh.
Learn more about our compost pilots below!
Camden Street Community Drop-off
Sign up below for drop-off details
In an effort to preserve our landfill and to reduce demand for more landfills in our community, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and Toward Zero Waste have partnered to pilot a free compost drop-off program for community members in the immediate area of the Camden Street Learning Garden. Here your food scraps can be collected, diverted from the landfill, and turned into rich compost that supports the community garden.
Live, work, or learn in the 27601 area and interested in participating?
Midtown Farmers Market Drop-off
4160 Main at North Hills St, Raleigh, NC 27609 Every Saturday from 8am – 12 pm
To support composting efforts in the county, Toward Zero Waste established a public/private partnership with the Midtown Farmers Market, Compost Now, and Wake County to offer a weekly food scraps drop-off at the market throughout the season. This drop off provides community members with a free, local option to divert food waste from the landfill. Since its start in April 2023 the compost pilot drop-off has seen continued success collecting over 6,000 lbs. of compostable materials and generating over 600 lbs. of compost.
This video shows why composting in our communities is so important.
Community Compost Spotlight:
“Look who’s leading the way!”
NC State University
Take a peek at NC State’s closed-loop
composting system that has been
operational since 2019!
Click HERE to learn more.
Greenville, SC
Check out Don’t Waste Food SC, an initiative focused on preventing, donating, and composting to reduce food waste in Greenville County.
Click HERE to learn more.
App State University
ASU has been composting since 1999, a program that started as a student led initiative!
Click HERE to learn more.
Austin, TX
Austin’s curbside compost program is part of its zero-waste goal to divert 90% of materials from landfills by 2040.
Click HERE to learn more.
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore has a multifaceted approach to composting and harnesses the power of community partners to help reach their goal of reducing food waste 50% by 2030.
Click HERE to learn more.
Cambridge, MA
In the first year of their citywide curbside composting program, Cambridge reduced their greenhouse gas emissions the equivalent of not driving 2.7 million miles!
Click HERE to learn more.
Eugene, OR
Eugene’s residential food waste collection program allows residents to place food scraps in with their yard waste.
Click HERE to learn more.
Durham, NC
Durham began a pilot curbside composting program for up to 100 families earlier this year – the FIRST in our state!
Click HERE to learn more.
