Food Waste Composting Stations

Page updated on April 27, 2022 at 9:32 AM

Food Waste Composting Stations

Food composting station (red tent with three green food waste carts) at Ben Brenman Park farmers' Market

The Department of Transportation & Environmental Services' Resource Recovery Division operates Food Waste Drop-Off Stations, located at four of the City's Farmers' Markets. City residents can drop off food waste free of charge. The food waste will be taken to a local composting site and processed into compost, a rich soil amendment. Staff will be on site to explain how to compost food and yard waste at home, and accept items for composting.

COVID-19 Precautions

To protect staff and members of the public, COVID-19 protocols are in place at the City's compost stations.

The City asks residents to wear a facial covering or mask and maintain 6 feet of physical distance from staff and other users of the food waste drop-off program.

Locations

The markets are operating on a full spring/summer schedule (as of April 23, 2022).

Map showing market locations in alexandria. Addresses and other market info is in the accompanying text

Old Town Farmers' Market
Market Square, 301 King Street
Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. -- Open Year Round

Del Ray Farmers' Market
Corner of East Oxford & Mount Vernon Avenues
Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. --  Open Year Round

Four Mile Run Farmers' Market
4109 Mount Vernon Avenue
Sundays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- Open Year Round 

West End Farmers' Market 
4800 Brenman Park Drive 
Sundays, 8.30 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- Open April 24 through November 20

Please note, market locations and dates are subject to change. Services may be delayed or canceled due to inclement weather or other rare circumstances. Updates regarding any changes are shared on T&ES social media channels ( Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).

Materials Accepted

A photo of a small, residential plastic compost bucket filled with orange peels and coffee grounds. Sits atop the large food waste container than people empty their compost into when visiting the food waste stall at Alexandria farmers' markets

The following items CAN be placed into food waste collection buckets for composting:

  • Fruit and vegetable scraps 
  • Bread, pasta, rice, grains, & cereal
  • Nuts, beans, seeds (including shells/hulls)
  • Coffee grounds, filters, tea bags (no foil or foil-backed products)
  • Egg Shells
  • Flowers

Materials Not Accepted

The following items CANNOT be placed in food waste buckets:

  • Meat, fish, shellfish (including bones)
  • Dairy products (cheese,  butter, ice cream, etc.)
  • Fats, oils or grease
  • Pet waste
  • Foam
  • Plastic bags, wrap, & film
  • Yard waste
  • Rubber bands and small fruit labels
  • Diapers

Program Flyer

A flier listing items than can and cannot be composted. Please click the link below the image for an accessible PDF version of this graphic.