For Immediate Release: February 3, 2023

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) selected the City of Alexandria as one of the 2023 Composting and Food Waste Reduction Cooperative Agreement recipients. With USDA's support, the City will soon launch a pilot curbside food waste composting program for selected residents receiving City trash and recycling services. This program will be separate from yard waste collections, and participants will be able to compost food waste at the curb every week.

The curbside composting pilot program will be in addition to the free farmers' market composting services that the City provides to all residents, expanding ways residents can divert waste from trash and create compost soil, a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

Registration for the pilot program is expected to open to residents late February, with collections expected to start this Spring. As part of this program, the City will also be conducting a Food Waste Reduction outreach campaign to provide residents with everyday tips to reduce food waste impact at home.

Visit alexandriava.gov/FoodWaste for more information about composting in the City.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact the Office of Communications & Public Information at newsroom@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3969.

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This release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/4295.