Feed The Green Bin Program Expands In Howard County To Reach More Homes

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Feed the Green Bin program in Howard County will be expanded to include 5,635 homes in the Wilde Lake and Centennial Lane areas, which means that 53 percent of households will help the environment by diverting food waste from landfills and turning it into compost.

The county’s food scrap curbside collection program eventually will serve more than 34,000 households.

“Even if you don’t produce a lot of food waste – every little bit counts,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said at a news conference announcing the program's expansion. “Last year, 900 tons of food scraps were diverted from the landfill through our program and turned into nutrient-rich compost. Howard County is leading the way in Maryland to create a clean and sustainable environment, and this is an easy and sustainable way for everyone to do their part.”

Households in the expansion area will receive information in the mail about the Feed the Green Bin program in the coming weeks or they can sign up online at www.FeedtheGreenBin.org through March 18. New participants of the Feed the Green Bin program will choose from three sizes for their green bin (12, 35, or 65 gallons), which will be delivered to their homes in early April.

In addition to food scraps like fruit and vegetable peelings, residents also can include expired foods, pizza boxes, small amounts of meat and dairy as well as yard trim. A complete list of acceptable items can be found online here.