Farmers Market Food Waste Drop-off
We are partnering with local Boston farmers markets to bring community food waste drop-off locations to more Boston communities.
Conveniently drop-off your food waste while shopping for fresh, locally grown produce. The best part is, farmers take your food scraps back to their farms to make compost which helps grow the fruits and vegetables that you love!
Help your local farmers! Help your community! Help the environment!
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Have questions? Contact 311:
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1 CITY HALL SQUARE, ROOM 714
BOSTON, MA 02201
2025 Farmers Market Drop-Off Locations
drop-off locations
Brighton Farmers Market
June 11th - October 29th | Wednesdays 2-6:30pm | Brighton Common 30 Chestnut Hill Ave Brighton, MA 02135
Dudley Town Farmers Market
May 19th - October 30th | Thursdays 2 - 6 pm | 555 Dudley Street Boston, MA 02125
East Boston Farmers Market
July 2nd - October 22nd | Wednesdays 3-6:30pm | 200 Border Street, East Boston 02128
How to drop off food waste
How to drop off food wasteStore food scraps in a closed lid container. It’s convenient to have your container close to where you produce food waste. Keep your container on your kitchen countertop, by your trash can, or in your freezer. You will bring your food scrap container to your local farmers market each week, so make sure it is easy to carry.
Some good options for kitchen food scrap containers include:
- Kitchen countertop food scrap container
- Sealed tupperware
- Small sealed storage containers
- Five-gallon paint bucket with lid (This may be the best option if you live with roommates)
Do a bit of research to find what the best option is for your household. A quick web search of “kitchen food scrap container” will show many different options.
There is a full list of what is accepted at the bottom of this website. You can print and post the list on your fridge for everyone to reference!
If you would like, you can line your food scrap container with BPI-Certified compostable bags. These are available online and in most hardware or grocery stores. Bring your food scraps with you when you go to shop at your local farmers market. Drop them in the green bin, and then shop for more fresh local fruits and vegetables.
When you return home from dropping off your food scraps. Wash your bin in the sink. Put a little bit of dish soap inside, and rinse a few times with warm water. Throw a bit of baking soda in the bottom of your bin to freshen it up!
You are making good use of food scraps by sending them back into the earth. You’re doing your part to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. And… helping the environment by enriching soil, giving new plants nutrients to grow! Go you!
Accepted Items
Here is the list of food waste items you can drop off at our farmers market food waste drop-off. It is important to only include these items so farmers can make the best compost.
YES, PLEASE!
- Fruit scraps
- Veggie Scraps
- (Some select markets may accept more items, talk to your market manager to find out)
NO THANKS!
- Meat
- Fish
- Bones
- Dairy
- Fats, grease, and oils
- Pet waste
- Eggs and eggshells
- Grains and bread
- Charcoal
- Yard Waste
- Cigarettes
- Dryer lint or sheets
- Styrofoam
- Plastics
- Compostable Tableware (these items take too long to break down for small scale composting)
Meet the Farmers
Learn more about the farmers who collect your food scraps and make nutrient rich compost for their farms!
brighton farmers market
Nubian Farms collects the food scraps at the Brighton Farmers Market and brings them back to their farms located in Boston and Lincoln. They grow a variety of fruits and vegetables including cucumbers, eggplant, zucchini, garlic, tomatoes, melons, squash, and more! The food scraps collected at the farmers market helps create a biodiverse nutrient rich soil for the upcoming season.
dudley town farmers market
The Food Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create a thoughtful and productive community of youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build a sustainable food system. Materials collected at the Dudley Town Common are brought back to their compost pile at West Cottage farm to turn into finished compost. This compost is spread on the urban farm where they grow mixed vegetables that are sold at the farmers market. The farm is located just a couple of miles from downtown- outside of Nubian Square.
east boston farmers market
Aoma Muma of Bombeta Farm, associated with Flats Mentor Farm collects the food scraps from the East Boston Farmers Market and brings them back to their farm in Lancaster, MA. They grow chipilin, bok choy, pumpkin leaves, celery, cilantro, mint, garlic, napa cabbage, onions, squash, Kale, spinach, managu, collard. Bombeta Farm is owned and operated entirely by Muma and his wife. Muma is hardworking and resourceful and saves money where he can by saving seeds and generating his own compost. The weekly food scrap contribution helps Muma to add more nutrient rich material to his compost source and to reduce the waste that he has to clean up at the farmers market.
Who's Involved:
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Have questions? Contact 311:
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1 CITY HALL SQUARE, ROOM 714
BOSTON, MA 02201
