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The City of Cambridge will expand its free small business composting pilot program to up to 40 additional small businesses by the end of 2022.
The goal of this pilot is to help businesses reduce costs, control rodents and protect our environment. The city collects two cartloads of food waste from small businesses up to twice a week.
Beginning November 1, 2022, commercial generators that produce more than 1,000 pounds of food waste per week will be required to reduce or divert food waste into the landfill. The service and carts are provided at no cost to participating businesses in the city to help small businesses in Cambridge comply with this state regulation. Weekly collection is expected to begin on October 24, 2022.
Currently, the city’s curbside composting program is available to all residential buildings and 60 small businesses located along the city’s curbside curbside.
Composting reduces going to landfills and turns food waste into clean energy. Separating food waste from garbage cans and placing them in curbside compost carts can help control rodents in the community, as locked green compost carts make it difficult for rodents to find food scraps that can go into the trash.
Currently, the city collects more than 35 tons of food waste per week, and through the expanded Small Business Compost Pilot Program, the city has the capacity to divert an additional 5 tons per week. Since curbside compost collection began in 2014, Cambridge has diverted more than 6,000 tons of food waste.
“Adding to our successful Small Business Recycling Program, which serves over 200 businesses, the Free Small Business Compost Pilot Program is an important service to support businesses,” said Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui. More than 50% of waste from food service businesses is food waste, and separating food waste from landfills can help fight climate change and reduce waste disposal costs.
“Current participants in the program have reported savings of an average of $200 per month, many attributed to reduced rodent activity by adding to the composting program,” said Owen O’Riordan, Acting City Manager for the City of Cambridge. We are incredibly proud to offer this program to help businesses save money, reduce rodent activity, and protect our environment. A true all-in-one program.
To apply for the pilot program, interested Cambridge businesses must complete this application by October 1, 2022.
The city will host a virtual public meeting on Monday, September 19 at 11 a.m. to review the program and answer questions from the business community.
Pre-register for this webinar:
https://cambridgema.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3CNQUjFBQe2a3JIcSfw1sQ
For more information, please contact the Department of Public Works at recycle@cambridgema.gov or call 617-349-4800.
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