State College Launches Food Waste Collection Program

Under a unique initiative in State College, borough public work officials are hoping that their food waste collection program will catch on.

The pilot program started this week.

Residents on select streets in State College were given brochures, a kitchen waste pail and a 35-gallon waste cart.

Participating residents are asked to put organic waste in the food waste cart, rather than in the trash.

Currently accepted items include fruit and vegetable trimmings, egg shells, bread, pasta, baked goods, coffee grounds, paper towels and napkins.

Items that are currently not permitted include any meat, fish, poultry, bones, dairy products and pet waste.

Public Works crews will pick up the carts during their weekly garbage route.

The organic food waste will be dumped into massive piles of leaves and grass, which Public Works member Ed Holmes says will eventually turn into compost.

“It's another large segment of the waste stream that we can remove,” said Holmes.

“So much to the point that we think in a couple of years, we might be able to collect regular residential refuse only once every two weeks, because people just won't accumulate that much."

More than 550 sets of pails, carts and brochures have been given to residents.

Holmes told WJAC-TV Wednesday that the curbside residential food waste composting project is only one of a few in the nation.

If the pilot program is successful over the next few months, Holmes is optimistic that the imitative will grow.