(Washington, DC) – The Department of Public Works (DPW) has achieved a remarkable sustainability milestone, collecting over 1 million pounds of compostable material through its network of Smart Composting Bins. This achievement reflects the growing commitment of District residents to recycle food waste, as the initiative has quickly taken root across the city’s 31 Smart Bins.
The 1 million pounds of food scraps diverted from landfills represent a significant environmental impact, with the compost created from this waste equivalent to the environmental benefit of planting approximately 3,500 trees over a decade. “Collecting this much food waste in the 18 months we’ve had the bins means a significant number of citizens are using them,” stated DPW Director Anthony Crispino. He noted that nearly 10 percent of all food waste collected by DPW in the past ten years has come from these food waste bins, highlighting the community’s role in fostering a healthier environment.
To further enhance accessibility to the program, DPW plans to roll out an additional 20 Smart Composting Bins this fall, expanding the initiative to more neighborhoods across the District. Nearly 10,000 residents have already registered to utilize the bins, which facilitate the reduction of waste and combat climate change efforts in Washington, DC.
Since the inception of its food waste diversion programs in 2014, which include residential curbside collection, weekend farmers market drop-off sites, and the 24-hour Smart Bins, DPW has successfully collected over 11 million pounds of food waste for composting. For residents interested in participating, a food waste drop-off map is available to locate all DPW Smart Bin sites throughout the city.
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