Drop-off Residential Food Scraps

Tompkins County has many FREE drop-off locations for residential food scraps. See the Tompkins County Department of Recycling & Material Management  web site for drop-off locations and hours.

• Learn more about food scraps recycling

It’s easy!

• Kitchen Caddy
  Collect your food scraps in your kitchen caddy. For added convenience, use a compostable bag. Kitchen caddies and compostable bags are available for free* at the Drop Spot locations.
• 5-Gallon Bucket
  Empty your kitchen caddy into a 5-gallon bucket with a secure lid.
• Drop-Off Tote
  Bring your bucket to a drop-off location below and place food scraps – compostable bag and all – into the tote. You may bring up to 10 gallons per day.

What’s Accepted?

• Food Scraps
• Bread, Grains, Beans, Legumes and Nuts
• Tea Bags, Coffee Grounds and Filters
• Compostable liners
• Paper Towels & Napkins
• Meat, Fish & Bones
• Eggs & Dairy
• Fruits & Vegetables

What’s Not Accepted?

• No compostable forks, cups, spoons or knives (regardless if products say Compostable or Biodegradable)
• No Paper plates, cups, etc.
• Diapers
• Pet Waste
• Styrofoam^TM
• Glass and Metal
• Plastics of Any Variety (inc. bags)
• Yard Waste