Food Composting Returns At Alexandria Farmers Markets In August

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Food waste composting will be the latest service returning to Alexandria's four farmers markets. The food waste composting stations will reopen at the Old Town and Del Ray farmers markets on Saturday, Aug. 1, and at Four Mile Run and West End markets on Sunday, Aug. 2.

Like the farmers markets, the food waste stations will have coronavirus-related protocols. Residents are asked to wear a face covering and maintain six feet of distance from others. Shared items such as cloth towels, spoons, and pens will not be available for customer use. The city has temporarily suspended selling kitchen-top compost buckets and giving away compost samples at the markets. Visitors are encouraged to wash their compost bins with soap and hot water after drop off as a precaution.

City of Alexandria residents can drop off food waste for free. The food waste is taken to a composting site and turned into compost. Accepted materials include fruit and vegetable scraps, bread, pasta, rice, grains, cereal, nuts, beans, sees, coffee grounds, coffee filters, tea bags, egg shells and flowers. Items not accepted include meat, fish, shellfish (and bones), dairy products, fats, oils, grease, pet waste, foam, plastic bags, wrap, film, yard waste, rubber bands, fruit labels, and diapers.

Food waste drop-off hours are:

• Old Town Farmers Market: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. year round
• Del Ray Farmers Market: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. year round
• Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market: Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year round
• West End Farmers Market: Sundays, 8.30 a.m. to 1 p.m., May to October

Farmers market guidelines related to the pandemic will continue until further notice. As of July 4, farmers markets were allowed to offer on-site food preparation, but consumption of products is not allowed on site. Masks are required for vendors and market staff, and customers are encouraged to wear masks when entering the markets.

Vendors are offering on-site sales, but pre-orders remain available. See more pre-ordering information by visiting www.visitalexandriava.com/alxathome/farmers-market for the Old Town Farmers Market and websites of the Del Ray Farmers Market, Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market and Old Town North Farmers' Market.