Compost Giveback!
High quality, screened compost will be available for Westchester residents on Sunday, April 14 and Sunday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., by appointment only, at the CompostED Facility in Valhalla!
Use the Compost Giveback reservation calendar to book a time slot! Please bring your email confirmation the day of the event.
The Department of Environmental Facilities (DEF) is offering this compost distribution event to residents to raise awareness of the benefits of compost, encourage residents to compost at home, and promote the County’s Residential Food Scrap and Transportation Program!
To make an appointment, residents must register for one of the events (April 14 or April 28) and sign up for a specific time slot. Due to the limited availability of compost, residents must arrive at the specific time slot for which they registered. Individuals who have not registered, miss their time slot, or arrive too early will be turned away.
Residents who register and arrive on time will receive 1 bag of compost (about a 5-gallon bucket). DEF will load the compost into your car. Our team will also provide residents with information regarding municipal composting opportunities and other Department of Environmental Facilities initiatives.
Visit the Compost Giveback reservation calendar to book a timeslot!
Remember:
- You must register for the event and arrive during the selected timeslot to receive compost
- Due to limited capacity, 1 bag limit per resident
For any questions, reach out to or call the Recycling Help Line (914)813-5425.
Quick Guide to recycling your food scraps in Westchester County:
Step 1: Find your local food scrap drop off here
Westchester County DEF supports local municipalities through the RFSTAD Program. The link above will help you identify the location and operating hours of your municipality’s food scrap drop-off.
Step 2- Find a way of storing food scraps that works for you.
- Freeze or refrigerate food scraps:
Freezing food scraps is a very convenient and safe way to store food scraps. The advantages of freezing food scraps as you generate them during meal preparation is that frozen food waste will not decompose and does not create odors. Freezing also eliminates any potential pest issues in your home. Frozen food scraps are accepted at drop-off sites. Transporting the scraps to the food scrap drop-off site is hassle free, as there are no potential leakages.
When freezing food scraps, it is important to identify a reusable container that will fit well in your freezer. A heavy duty 2-gallon Silicon zip-lock style bag works well, as does a plastic container with a lid.
- Use a paper bag liner for your countertop composter:
If Freezing or refrigerating your food scraps is not an option, try lining your countertop bin with a paper bag, instead of a compostable bag. A paper bag will help keep your countertop compost bin relatively clean. Standard brown paper bags (without any plastic liners) are safe to use, and will not inhibit the compost process in any way.
Dropping off food scraps without utilizing compostable bags helps compost facilities process food scraps more effectively. Though BPI certified compostable bags do eventually break down, “bagged” food scraps do not blend effectively with yard waste, which can inhibit the composting process.
- Use a BPI Certified Compostable bag:
If you are unable to freeze your food scraps, or use a paper bag liner, you may still use a BPI Compostable bag to store your food scraps prior to dropping them off at the food scrap drop-off. Be sure to only use BPI Certified Compostable bags (plastic bags or bags marked biodegradable are not accepted). Avoid using multiple bags (“double bagging”), and try not to tie the bags closed if possible.
CompostED Facility
The CompostED facility, located on the Grasslands Campus in Valhalla, is the County’s first small-scale food scrap composting demonstration and education site. Construction broke ground in December of 2020 and officially opened on Earth Day 2021.
The facility composts up to two tons of food scraps a week and also serves as a valuable educational opportunity for County residents, students, and municipal officials. At the facility, visitors can learn about the environmental benefits and process of composting and also explore how local municipalities can incorporate food scraps into existing organic yard waste composting sites.
School Groups
Interactive tours are available for school groups where students will be able to take and record compost temperatures, mix compost ingredients, hand screen and flip compost piles. Tours will offer a hands on learning experience diving into all the benefits of composting, the importance of diverting food waste from the waste stream and how to recycle food waste in Westchester County!
If your school or class is interested in participating in a compost tour, or more information about the CompostED program, please send an email to