Things are starting to (somewhat) return to normal again. Kids went back to school. Businesses and restaurants opened back up, albeit with some restrictions in place. Last week, Quimby Street activities started up again. Now, the Westfield Food Waste Recycling Program is back.
Westfield Food Waste Recycling Program
The City partnered up with Green Bucket Compost to create a food waste recycling program here in Westfield back in 2019. Unfortunately, they suspended the program last year during the global pandemic. With so many people cooking for themselves over the past 12+ months, household food waste went up. Westfield residents began asking to bring back the recycling program. The City listened. And now it is back. So, instead of dumping it down your garbage disposal or put out to the curbside, it gets recycled into cleaner-burning bio-fuel to use in place of the more toxic petroleum-based fuel.
All you need to do to participate is to throw your household food waste into a reusable bin/bucket. Then, take it to the recycling center (1300 Lamberts Mill Rd) between 9 am and 2:30 pm on Thursdays and Fridays or 9 am to 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. No permit required. Empty your containers of food waste into the covered bins provided. If those bins are full, you may leave your waste in your own container next to the bins. However, your containers cannot be made of glass or black plastic bags. Green Bucket picks the waste up and takes it to the Elizabeth NJ’s Waste Management facilities. After initial processing, the waste then makes its way to the Rahway Valley Sewage Authority. Once there, it gets turned into bio-fuel.
Acceptable Food Waste
- Coffee Grounds
- Dairy
- Egg Shells
- Fruits
- Grains
- Meat
- Oils and Fats (limited amounts)
- Potato Peels
- Seafood (no shells)
- Vegetables