Ridgewood expands food composting program. See how to participate

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RIDGEWOOD — A food recycling bin will be installed at the Social Service Association building on Station Plaza west of the train station within the next week to expand opportunities for participation in the village’s composting program.

Department of Public Works Supervisor Sean Hamlin said the bin will allow food scraps to be dropped off around the clock, seven days a week. Under the current program, participants may bring scraps to the village Recycling Center on East Glen Avenue only from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

“One of the big challenges has been getting people to the center, because we’re only open five days a week,” Hamlin said. “That schedule doesn’t work for some people.”

Hamlin said the village hopes to have three more bins installed at other locations before the end of the year.

“We also got some great partnerships out of this with the public schools and some restaurants,” Hamlin said.

The village’s program was the first of its kind in North Jersey when it was initiated in March 2021, and it started with 80 residents.

“The number of participant households is closer to 372, and the program is going great,” Hamlin said. “Part of the issue in expanding the program is grants. Another is New Jersey, which hasn’t eased its regulations to make it easier to do this in-house. That’s where you save money.”

The village has not found a location that meets state requirements for distance between residences and recycling operations. Therefore, food refuse is now transported to Trenton Renewables for processing.

“Since 2021, we have diverted 88 tons of food waste,” said Village Manager Keith Kazmark. “That equates to 26 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions that we removed from the air quality. We’re hoping by next year we can have in-house processing and get more participants.”

Registered participants are issued buckets in which they deposit all foods: beans, bones, bread, coffee grounds and filters, dairy, eggshells and eggs, food-soiled paper napkins and paper towels, fruits, grains, meat, pasta, poultry, rice, seafood, tea bags without the staples and all vegetables.

Registered participants scan a QR code, which serves as a key to unlock the bin for deposit of their refuse.

“We’re also running education programs on how residents have fewer food scraps to compost, how to shop and cook so there are fewer leftovers,” Hamlin said.

More information on the food recycling program can be found on the village website, ridegewoodnj.net. Applications to participate are posted on the website as well.