Frequently Asked Questions

Enter your address into the green "Pricing" section of the residential pick up page.

We offer food scrap collection plans for weekly or every other week pick-up. Plans vary per town. Choose a frequency that will work for you based on the amount of food scraps you generate and the space you have for bin storage. If you choose a frequency that does not work for you, you can switch plans. Email reminders the night before your pick-up are available for weekly and every other week plans.

Practicing good bin maintenance can lessen the summer heat effects, such as rinsing the bin, storing food scraps in the freezer, keeping liquids out of the bin, sprinkling the bottom of the bin with baking soda, and other simple tricks. Learn more about bin maintenance.

Customers can choose between a 13 gallon bin (dimensions 13" w x 13" l x 27" h), with locking lid and wheels or a 4 gallon apartment bin (Dimensions: 10" w, 13.5" h) for curbside pickup. The bin can be kept inside or outside the house.

We recommend the 13 gallon bin as it holds more and is easier to spot on the side of the road. It can also more easily accommodate fluctuations in the amount of compostable waste you have. The 4 gallon works for people who do not have the space to accommodate a 13 gallon bin on their property or have a lot of stairs.

If you are just not sure, you can start with the 4 gallon bin and then purchase a 2nd one or switch to the 13 gallon bin through your online account if you decide it is too small. The 4 gallon bin fits under most kitchen sinks so it can also work as a kitchen container or be reused more easily since we don't take bins back.

You may want to use a smaller kitchen container to empty into the larger bin. We do not sell any but there are many types to choose from and we offer some suggestions here.

Curbside compost bins must be put on the curb like you would your regular trash can. They must be visible, not hidden behind other trash receptacles, trees, fences, or snow banks. Bins not on the curb, for instance, left on a porch or next to the garage, will not be collected. In the winter, please ensure that your bin is placed in a visible location along the road and is accessible without the need to walk through snow.
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If you live in an apartment complex or condo and don’t have a curb, you can pick another location that our truck can drive up to and locate easily. We advise that you check with your building facilities to make sure it is okay. Then, contact us to verify your location.

If you have a long driveway, we offer an extended service plan for an additional fee that will allow us to come down your driveway. Contact us to find out more.

For 13 gallon bins, the max acceptable weight is 40 lbs. If your bin is continually heavier than 40 lbs we ask that you get a second bin subscription or switch to weekly pick up.

We offer a service plan for a second 13 gallon bin. Please contact us to add this service to your account. For infrequent needs, consider ordering yard waste stickers and putting out a yard waste bag with your bin. This works great for parties with lots of soiled paper products.

Certified compostable liners for your bin or countertop container are available for purchase in the shop section of your online account. They will be delivered during your next scheduled pickup when ordered by 3:00 PM the day before. Log in to access the Shop.

You do not have to use our liners. When purchasing liners elsewhere, they must be certified compostable by BPI, TUV, or CMA and the certification logo must be printed directly on each bag. Look for these trusted brands: BioBag, EcoSafe, Repurpose, & UNNI. They can often be found at Crosby’s, Target, Whole Foods, and Amazon. Be aware Amazon do not always ship the product advertised. Check for the certification logo on the bag when you receive your order.

Compostable liners come in a variety of sizes but note that the ones we sell are the proper dimensions for our bins.

Doubled-up brown paper bags can also be used as a liner when the temperature is above freezing.

Compostable bags are made of a corn polymer and have been tested to break down within a certain time frame at industrial compost facilities. Biodegradable bags are not the same as compostable bags.

No! Plastic bags are a contaminant. Your bin will not be emptied if contaminated with plastic.

Log into your online account to check the status of your pickup. If we missed you, please complete the missed pickup form in your account so we can review your stop.

Customers own their bin and are responsible for purchasing a new Black Earth Compost bin in the event it becomes lost, stolen, or damaged. A replacement bin or clip can be purchased through the Shop in your customer account and it will be delivered during your next pickup. Log in to access the Shop.

Ipswich, Lexington, Natick, Watertown & Manchester: Please follow your town's trash holiday scheduleAll Other Towns: There will be a one-day delay for the 6 holidays below. The delay applies to customers whose collection day falls on the holiday through Saturday.
New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

For all other holidays, there is no delay due to the holiday. Please have your bin out on your regular day, even if your trash and recycling collection is delayed.

We offer a service plan for a second 13 gallon bin. Please contact us to add this service to your account. For infrequent needs, consider ordering yard waste stickers and putting out a yard waste bag with your bin. This works great for parties with lots of soiled paper products.

Taking a few extra steps to establishing a good system can help reduce flies and smells. Here are some suggestions:

• We highly recommend the use of a container liner, either a paper bag/newspaper or an approved compostable bag (biodegradable bags are not acceptable).
• Rinse your bin and countertop container with water after each use and flip it over to fully dry.
• Compost napkins, paper towels, and other soiled paper to absorb moisture.
• Avoid pouring liquid into the container and squeeze out wet items.
• Indoor kitchen containers with a carbon filter trap odor.
• In the heat of the summer freeze food waste before collection.
• Sprinkle bottom of container with baking soda (to absorb wetness & odor).
• Sprinkle bottom of container with white vinegar.
• Wrap meat and fish in newspaper or paper bags.
• Keep the bin out of the sun.
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Check out our bin maintenance tips for additional information.

Most cities have a separate service that pick up leaves and yard waste. Please inquire with your city. If your city is unable to meet your needs, we do offer yard waste collection. Purchase an orange sticker through your account store and slap it on a paper yard waste bag, fill it with yard debris (NO GRASS!), and place it next to your green bin on your regularly scheduled pickup.

Acceptable material includes leaves, small plants, and sticks no greater than a half inch round. Grass is only accepted if you participate in an organic yard care program. Please keep yard bags dry until pickup day. Click here for more information about our sticker program.

To prevent compost from freezing to your outdoor bin in winter you can line it with a certified compostable bag.

No. Soiled pizza boxes are now accepted by most major recyclers. We recommend recycling your pizza boxes as this is the best end use. We used to accept pizza boxes but have since changed our policy.

Produce stickers are not compostable and do not break down in the compost pile. Please remove stickers from produce before disposal. For a fun and creative way to remember to remove stickers check out our Fruit Sticker Sheet Challenge.

In April, you will receive a printable voucher in your online account for a cubic foot bag of compost, redeemable at participating garden centers. If you do not wish to receive compost we will donate your portion to Backyard Growers. Make sure the donate option is selected in your online account.

Yearly vouchers expire on October 1st and can not be saved for the next year or traded in for credit. Customers enrolled by January 31st, 2025 will receive a voucher in the spring of 2025. (Excl. Ipswich, Manchester, and Watertown where compost is distributed through the city.)

You are welcome to switch to any of the plan options available in your town. To view the plan options in your town, enter your address in the price search on this page. Contact us to let us know which plan you would like to switch to.

Yes! We can transfer service within the same town or to another town we service. Once you know your move date, please complete our address change form through your online account. Log in, go to the Account & Billing drop-down menu, and select Change Service Address. If the service plans are different in your new town, you will be able to select a new plan, and we will transfer the remaining time on your current plan over to the new plan.

You can pause your service plan if you will be away for 4 or more weeks in a row. Please notify us here before the period begins, and we will reply to confirm.

You may cancel your subscription at any time before your upcoming billing cycle to avoid further charges. You can set it to cancel immediately or at a future date. Please note that the subscription fee will not be prorated for the remainder of the billing period upon cancellation.To cancel service, log in to your account here, go to the Account & Billing drop-down menu, and select Cancel Service to get to the cancellation page.

If you plan to use our service again, you may pause your service instead. See the section "Can I pause my service plan?".If you cancel within the first 30 days, and are on a 6-month or annual plan, you may be eligible for a prorated refund. You may submit a request through your online account. There are no prorated refunds for month-to-month plans.

We do not take the curbside bin back. It is yours to reuse, recycle, or hold onto if you plan to resume in the future.

Watertown residents moving out of Watertown, please leave the Watertown bin at the property for the next residents. If you have a bin that was never used and has a Watertown seal on it, you may bring it to the Watertown DPW.

You will be assigned a specific pick-up day or days. However, pick-up times are subject to change. The bin should be accessible 24 hrs/day.

We charge a flat rate for each pick-up based on the number of bins and your location. Invoices are emailed every 4 weeks with net 30 day terms.

At each pick-up, we replace the large liners on the bin that we provide. If you would like to order more liners for use inside of your business, please email office@blackearthcompost.com with the quantity and size of liner you would like.

Certified compostable bin liners come in cases of 23 gallon slim jim, 60 gallon, and 13 gallon. Please let us know if you would like to keep a roll of liners on hand as back up!

We accept all food scraps, including meat, dairy, bones, as well as soiled paper products and certified compostable service ware.  Learn more about What's Compostable.  

Yes, we have graphic based "Compost" sorting signage available in English and Spanish to hang next to your bin. Download and print.

Bins need to be in an accessible and consistent location at time of pick-up. Bins are usually left in the dumpster area, but also can be picked off of a loading dock. Please let us know where you plan to leave your bins.

Yes, there is a 180 pound limit marked on the bin. If bins get overfilled, we may not be able to empty them. Please note that dense and wet material will get heavy very quickly.

We take contamination very seriously.  If your bin is found to contain non-acceptable material, like plastic or metal, the bin may be accepted or rejected, depending on the contamination found. If accepted you will receive a $25 fee. If rejected the customer will be responsible for removing the contamination. In each case you will receive a contamination notification email.

We will service an entire condo or apartment complex as a commercial account or we will service individual units with a residential collection plan as long as there is an accessible location outside to leave the bin.

Starting up an entire condo or apartment complex with a composting program is a collaborative effort. Please see our checklist of required steps involved in start up before contacting us. Download and print the required steps to share with your building.

We partner directly with local governments to design and implement comprehensive composting infrastructure that reduces landfill waste and supports community sustainability.

Municipal composting programs reduce waste management costs, create local jobs, and generate nutrient-rich compost for community green spaces and public landscaping.

We offer complete implementation support including program design, community education, bin distribution, collection logistics, and ongoing waste tracking.

Costs vary based on community size and program scope. We provide detailed proposals with potential cost savings and long-term environmental benefits.

Typical municipal program rollout takes 3-6 months, including planning, community engagement, and infrastructure setup.

Composting is the process of turning organic materials like food scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil. This natural recycling method enriches the earth, retains moisture, and minimizes the need for chemical fertilizers. By composting, you help reduce landfill waste and promote a healthier environment.

When done correctly, composting should not produce unpleasant odors. Maintaining a balance of green and brown materials, along with proper aeration, helps prevent smells. If you notice a strong odor, it may indicate an imbalance that can be easily corrected.

By composting, you are turning what would otherwise be waste into a resource that can be used again. Not only is this resource valuable, but instrumental in securing a healthy local food system. When you compost with Black Earth Compost your efforts become part of a bigger, more resilient system. The finished compost is available for you to use and is used by local farms that grow food that is sold in grocery stores and restaurants, returning your nutrients to you in their most nourishing form.

Not only is the big picture cool, but all the microbes, bacteria, and insects that make it possible are pretty cool too! The same genus of bacteria that inhabit hot springs and deep sea thermal vents are also found in the compost pile when it’s at its hottest temperature.

A decrease in the use of garbage disposals results in water and electricity savings. Food scraps are organics, which increase Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) at our wastewater treatment plant, adding to the cost of treating our wastewater. By removing these organics, the treatment plant can function more efficiently, saving daily cost of operation while also helping marine wildlife and habitat, thus improving the quality of our estuaries and waterways.

In the compost world, organics refers to materials that were once alive and will break down naturally to be turned into compost (nutrient-rich soil). This term is not to be confused with organic food that complies with organic methods of farming. Examples of organics that are accepted in the compost bin are listed on the “Composting Guide” page.

We compost at several locations that we manage or are in partnerships with that are permitted by the MASS Department of Environmental Protection or MASS Dept of Agriculture to accept food waste for composting. These locations include partnerships with cities, local farms, and private land. Learn about our compost sites.

Always keep compost carts out of the reach of pets. As organic material decomposes, mold can grow. Some forms are toxic to pets.