The Town of Lexington is happy to announce the expansion of its curbside composting pilot program. The program will allow an additional 2,000 Lexington households to sign up for curbside pickup of food waste and other compostable items at no cost, bringing the total up to 4,000 households. With compostable waste making up 35% of Lexington’s waste stream, this pilot is a critical step in reducing waste in our community.

Enrollment will reopen on May 1st at 9:00 AM for the next 2,000 spots and is first-come, first-served. If you are currently enrolled in the pilot program or are currently paying for service, you do not need to re-enroll. If you are one of the first 2,000 to sign up, you will begin service under the pilot program on July 1st. New Black Earth composters will receive a starter kit that includes a Lexington sealed curbside bin, a countertop container, liners for the curbside bin, and liners for a countertop container. These starter kits can be picked up after June 10th at the Samuel Hadley Public Services Building (201 Bedford Street). If you are not among the first 2,000 Lexington households to sign up, you can go on the waitlist for possible future expansions and/or enroll in a paid service plan.

The program is currently funded for 1 additional year—from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. There is the possibility of extension and expansion of the pilot pending additional funding.

HOW TO CURBSIDE COMPOST

1. Line Your BiN OR COUNTERTOP CONTAINER

This helps prevent the contents from sticking or freezing to the bin. We accept certified compostable liners for your bin or countertop container and brown paper bags when above freezing. Liners can be purchased in your account and we'll drop them off at pick-up.

2. Sort your Food Scraps

We take all food waste including meat, bones, dairy, shells, soiled paper towels, napkins, and certified compostable serviceware. This is more than what can go in a backyard pile. View the full list of what's compostable.

3. Put The bin on the curb

Have your bin on the curb, in a visible spot, the night before or by 6 AM on your collection day. We will swing by and empty the full contents of the bin. If you live in an apartment, contact us to confirm a pick-up location.

5. Smile

While you are making good use of your food scraps, reducing waste and helping the environment, we are mixing and screening the organics to create a nutrient rich compost. Learn more about our compost process.

6. Manage Service with Your Online Account

• Check the status of your pickup
• Order compostable bags and compost products
• Report a missed pickup
• Change your service address
• View your environmental impact
• Cancel service

7. Get FINISHED COMPOST

In April, receive a voucher to redeem 1 cubic foot bag of compost from a participating garden center and receive $5 off per yard of bulk compost and soil blends.

ENROLLMENT OPENS ON MAY 1ST AT 9:00 AM

New Customer

Already Have An Account

How long is the pilot? The program is currently funded for 1 additional year—from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. There is the possibility of extension and expansion of the pilot pending additional funding.

Who can sign up? Any Lexington household that can be served by Black Earth Compost is eligible to sign up for the pilot program. We can work with households living in condominiums or multifamily housing. It will need to be in a location our drivers can spot and drive to easily. The program is first-come, first-served, and only the first 2,000 households will be accepted into the program. The Town will maintain a waitlist.

What if I am already paying for curbside compost pickup? All existing customers (both pilot and paying customers) will be automatically rolled into the 4,000 total on July 1, 2024. If you are currently paying for curbside compost service through a provider other than Black Earth, you can still sign up for the Town program. You would then cancel your existing subscription and enroll with Black Earth at no cost.

What if I am not accepted but still want to start composting? You can pay for curbside service through Black Earth Compost and/or join the waiting list for the pilot program in case a spot opens up or the pilot is expanded. Alternatively, you can take advantage of the LexSORT drop off locations or start composting at home.

Will I get a bin when I sign up? All new Black Earth customers will receive a free starter kit, which includes a 13-gallon curbside bin, a countertop container, liners for the curbside bin, and liners for a countertop container. Starter kits can be picked up from the Samuel Hadley Public Services Building (201 Bedford Street).

Do I need bin liners? Bin liners are strongly recommended as they will help keep your bin clean. After the first roll of liners is provided in the starter kit, pilot participants are responsible for securing their own liners. All liners must be certified compostable by Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA), or TUV. Liners can be purchased through Black Earth in the shop section of your online account, but you are not required to purchase liners through Black Earth. Doubled-up brown paper bags can also be used as a liner when the temperature is above freezing.

Why Participate in Curbside Food Scrap Collection? 35% of household waste is compostable. In your curbside bucket, you are able to include more than you can in a backyard system, including meat, dairy, bones, and certified compostable serviceware because the material is taken to one of our industrial compost facilities. By diverting these scraps from the landfill, where they would generate methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, or be incinerated, they are instead turned into nutrient-rich compost that is used to improve soil and plant health on local farms and backyard gardens while also drawing down carbon from the atmosphere.