MELROSE — Mayor Jen Grigoraitis this week announced a new partnership with Garbage to Garden, a leading provider of curbside composting services, to offer residents an easy, affordable and sustainable way to reduce waste.
Residents who sign up will receive weekly curbside collection of their food scraps and other compostable materials at a reduced preferred vendor rate of $11.95 per month. In addition, those who participate will begin receiving a $24 annual reduction in their trash fee after six months of service, making it both an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for households.
The curbside composting program is designed to help the community increase the diversion of organic waste — including all food scraps (meat, bones, dairy, seafood and more) and other compostables like food soiled paper or certified compostables — to composting. By preventing these materials from ending up in landfills and incinerators, Melrose residents can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and instead return nutrients to the soil. Through this partnership with Garbage to Garden, Melrose is taking a significant step toward its commitment to sustainability and waste reduction.
“Time and time again, Melrose residents have shown their commitment to reducing household solid waste, protecting our environment, and making the city a climate and sustainability leader,” said Mayor Grigoraitis. “I’m thrilled that Garbage to Garden’s new partnership with the City will create even more options for Melrose households to participate in curbside composting, ultimately helping the City reduce the cost and carbon footprint of our solid waste collection and processing.”
Residents who sign up for the program will receive weekly curbside collection of their food scraps, with a one-time purchase of their preferred curbside container. As this program uses commercial composting processes, a wider range of items are accepted than a backyard compost pile: participants will be able to compost everything from fruit and vegetable scraps to meat, bones, seafood shells, and more, making it simple to divert a wide range of materials from the trash.
“We’re excited to partner with the City to bring a new curbside composting service to Melrose.” said Tyler Frank, founder and president of Garbage to Garden. “By providing a convenient and reliable way for residents to compost, plus offering the annual reduction in the trash free, we hope to get 600 tons of food waste per year out of the trash and back into local soils. “
Residents can sign up for the program for service beginning immediately. For more information on how to participate or to register, visit garbagetogarden.org/melrose. For questions about this program, please contact Garbage to Garden directly at info@garbagetogarden.org or by calling 617-977-4547.
The mayor said, “Together, we can make a difference. Join us in reducing waste, improving the environment, and building a more sustainable future for Melrose!”