Buncombe County and the City of Asheville’s Food Scraps Drop-Off Pilot Program has gotten much-deserved recognition.
The collaborative received an award from the Carolina Recycling Association recognizing top performers who advance waste reduction and recycling in the Carolinas.
A panel of judges selected the program for its creative and innovative approach to recycling.
The Food Scraps Drop-Off Pilot Program is a collaborative initiative between Buncombe County Solid Waste Services, the City of Asheville Sanitation Division, and the City of Asheville Sustainability Department. The program is free to any resident of Buncombe County, which includes the City of Asheville.
The City of Asheville started the Food Scraps Drop-Off Pilot Program in 2021. The City partnered with Buncombe County to expand drop-off location access. About 41,780 pounds of food scraps were collected in the first six months at its first two locations. Both the City and County developed and implemented web content to promote the program, social media posts to gain registrants, and held several successful in-person workshops.
As of January 2024, over 671,000 pounds of food scraps and other organics have been collected from 3,700 participating households. With a County-secured grant from NCDEQ, the program has grown to eight locations.
All locations are open daily and unstaffed. Registered participants have the option to pick up a free kitchen countertop tote to carry food scraps from home. The organic matter collected is turned into clean compost, keeping it out of our landfills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
If you are interested in joining the food scraps drop-off program, click here to register.