In its first three months, the Food Waste Drop-off Program at the Dartmouth Transfer Station diverted 7,100 pounds of food waste, according to the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District.

Dartmouth residents dropped off 1,980 pounds of food waste in July, 2,720 pounds in August and 2,400 pounds in September, all of which was composted, the district said.

“This program helps residents reduce waste at home, save money by using fewer orange SMART program trash bags and keep food waste out of the Crapo Hill Landfill,” said Timothy Barber, the director of the Dartmouth Department of Public Works.

The Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District is encouraging participation in the program by handing out rolls of BPI certified compostable bags.

Dartmouth residents dropping off food waste at the Dartmouth Transfer Station will have a chance to receive a roll of 10 BPI certified compostable bags.

Refuse District staff will be near the food waste carts at the transfer station to hand out the bags on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 2 to 3 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 12 to 1 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10 to 11 a.m.

The management district will also be providing 100 additional starter kits for new participants, given the popularity of the program.

Residents can pick up starter kits at the Dartmouth Department of Public Works, located at 759 Russells Mills Road, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Supplies are limited and proof of residency is required.

Each kit includes a kitchen counter bin, a roll of compostable bags and a 5-gallon bucket for transporting the accepted waste to the Dartmouth Transfer Station.

To use the starter kit, residents should first find a spot for their kitchen bin and line it with a BPI certified compostable bag. 

Residents should then fill the bin with accepted material, including all unpackaged food, bones and coffee grounds. Example items include fruit, chicken bones and baked goods. 

Materials that are not permitted include packaged foods, plastic bags, produce stickers, cleaning chemicals, diapers, glass, pet waste, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, plates, cups, utensils, recycling, trash and yard waste.

Once the bin is almost full, residents should tie off the compostable bag and place it into the 5-gallon bucket.

When the 5-gallon bucket is almost full, residents can take it to the Dartmouth Transfer Station at 976 Russells Mills Road.

The transfer station is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. A transfer station permit is also required to use the facility.

If a resident doesn’t have a starter kit, they can put food in any container or bucket, with or without a BPI certified compostable bag, and bring their food waste to the Dartmouth Transfer Station at 976 Russells Mills Road.

For more information, call the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District at 508-979-1493 or by email at Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org.