Town of Grand Island launches free food scrap collection pilot program

Submitted

The Town of Grand Island, in partnership with Erie County’s Plate to Field program, is pleased to announce the launch of a food scrap collection pilot program designed to make food scrap recycling easy, convenient and free for residents. The pilot program will allow Grand Island residents to have their food scraps collected and composted by Erie County, helping divert residential food waste from landfills.

Online registration is now open. Residents can register for the program at https://tinyurl.com/GIFSCP.

Grand Island launch event – Sept. 12

The official launch of the food scrap collection pilot program will take place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Grand Island Highway Department, 1820 Whitehaven Road. Two satellite launch locations will also be available during the same hours at Tops Friendly Markets, 2140 Grand Island Blvd., and The Sandy Beach Farm Store & Bakery, 3432 Wallace Drive.

At all three locations, Grand Island residents can:

•Pick up a free countertop food scrap collection bin, while supplies last;

•Receive information about what can and cannot be composted; and

•Register for the program if they have not already done so.

After Sept. 12, residents who register online may pick up a free food scrap collection bin at the Grand Island Highway Department weekdays from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m., while supplies last. Residents may also participate using their own suitable food scrap collection container.

How the program works

Participation is simple:

•Register for the food scrap collection pilot program.

•Collect food scraps at home using the provided countertop bin or your own container.

•Drop off your food scraps at one of the designated collection locations.

Food scraps can be dropped off at the Grand Island Highway Department, 1820 Whitehaven Road, weekdays from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. A second drop-off location will be available at Grand Island Town Hall and will be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Our Highway Department is proud to support this partnership with Erie County by transporting Grand Island residents’ food scraps to the county’s composting facility each week,” Town of Grand Island Highway Superintendent Jim Sedita said. “It’s a great opportunity to provide residents with a convenient new service while working together to reduce food waste and keep valuable organic material out of landfills.”

Collected food scraps will be composted locally, including at facilities such as the Alden Correctional Facility compost facility. Compost generated through the pilot program will be used by the Erie County Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department in public parks and other public locations throughout Erie County.

For more information about Grand Island’s food scrap collection pilot program, including registration, acceptable materials, drop-off locations and instructions, and upcoming events, visit https://www.grand-island.ny.us/1529/Food-Scraps. The website will be updated regularly with program information and announcements.

What can be composted?

Residents can place a wide variety of food scraps and other approved organic materials in their collection bins, including:

√ Leftover food, cooked or uncooked

√ Dairy products and eggs

√ Meat and seafood, including bones and shells

√ Fruits and vegetables and their peels

√ Grains, including bread, pasta, rice and more

√ Coffee grounds and filters and tea bags

√ Cut flowers and herbs

√ Certified compostable pail liners

Informational sheets listing acceptable and unacceptable materials will be provided with the collection bins and will also be available on the town’s website.

Grand Island’s participation

Grand Island’s partnership with the Plate to Field program grew out of a resident’s inquiry about food scrap composting in the town. The inquiry was referred to the Grand Island Conservation Advisory Board (CAB), which formed a subcommittee to explore the feasibility of establishing a residential food scrap collection program.

The CAB’s subcommittee subsequently contacted Erie County’s Plate to Field program and today, with full support of the Town Board, is one of five municipalities to receive support from the program. The other participating municipalities are Aurora, East Aurora, Alden and Lancaster.

“We’re pleased to partner with Erie County on this pilot program and give Grand Island residents the opportunity to try food scrap collection at no cost,” Council member Jose Garcia said. “The pilot will help us divert food waste from landfills while also giving us a better understanding of how residents use the program and whether there is continued demand for residential food scrap collection in Grand Island. We hope residents will take advantage of this opportunity and participate.”

More about Plate to Field

Plate to Field is a grant-funded initiative, led by the Erie County Department of Environment & Planning in partnership with WeRadiate, to help municipalities throughout Erie County establish residential food scrap collection and drop-off programs. The initiative aims to reduce the amount of residential food waste sent to landfills and transform food scraps into nutrient-rich compost that can be returned to productive use in the community.

Through the program, Erie County and WeRadiate provide participating municipalities with assistance in developing food waste diversion programs, including community education, collection support, and food scrap collection containers for residents.

The Plate to Field initiative is funded in part through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Climate Smart Communities Grant Program.

Additional ways residents can get involved

Participating residents can also enroll in Erie County’s soil stewards course, an educational training program focused on practical composting techniques, sustainable land management, and ways to improve local green spaces using finished compost.

Erie County Environment & Planning is also seeking local compost ambassadors to help promote the program, connect with community members, and educate residents about food scrap composting. Compost ambassadors will receive training and help spread the word about the program within their communities.

Residents interested in the soil stewards course or becoming a compost ambassador can learn more and sign up at the Plate to Field website: erie-county.framer.website.

Why compost?

Food scraps make up a significant portion of the waste sent to landfills. By separating food scraps for collection and composting, residents can help reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills while returning valuable nutrients to the soil.

Composting transforms food scraps into a useful resource that can improve soil health and support plant growth. Through the food scrap collection pilot program, Grand Island residents can help reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable community.

The town encourages residents to take advantage of this free pilot program and discover how easy it can be to make food scrap collection part of their everyday routine.