Somerville Installs 10 Composting Bins Throughout City

Residents can access the bins for free after completing a one-time registration.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Oct 28, 2026 2:00 PM EDT

SOMERVILLE, MA — The city has expanded its food waste collection efforts in an effort to make composting more accessible to residents.

Ten new food waste drop-off bins have been installed across Somerville and are ready for use. The bins provide residents with a free composting option and build on existing programs, including the curbside food waste collection pilot in East Somerville.

"Even a banana peel can be part of our response to climate change," Mayor Jake Wilson said. "Residents voted for this project because they wanted composting to be an option for more of their neighbors. These bins give everyone in Somerville a free way to turn food scraps into something useful while keeping food out of the trash and away from rats."

In order to use the bins, residents must complete a one-time registration online, scan the QR code on a bin, or call 311 to receive an access code. The code will work at all 10 locations, which can be found on the city's online map.

Food scraps and accepted food-soiled paper, including coffee filters and paper towels, should be placed in a compostable or paper bag before being put in a bin. Regular trash, pet waste, vapes, and recyclables are not accepted. The full list of accepted items is available on the city's food waste webpage.

The city will also hold its annual Pumpkin Smash on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants can bring their own pumpkins or smash ones provided at the event to help turn them into compost.

The event will include a walk to the new bin outside the East Somerville Branch Library to demonstrate how it works. Information about the East Somerville curbside food waste collection pilot will also be available.

Expanding food waste collection supports goals outlined in Somerville's Zero Waste Plan and Climate Forward, including reducing waste by 30 percent by 2030 and 90 percent by 2050. According to the city, plant and animal waste and compostable paper account for approximately 30 percent of municipal solid waste in Massachusetts. Collecting those materials separately keeps them out of the trash and allows them to be turned into compost used to fertilize soil.