Princeton Expands Food Scrap Program To 10 Sites

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton has once again expanded its free municipal food scraps recycling program.

New collection bins are now located at Griggs Farm, Thanet Circle, Westminster Choir College, Mercer Road, and at the former PFARS building on North Harrison Street.

This brings the total food scraps drop-off sites to 10.

"This expansion is a major step forward for Princeton’s sustainability efforts,” said Deanna Stockton, Deputy Administrator and Municipal Engineer. "Expanding our food scraps collection program helps divert significant amounts of waste from landfills, reinforcing our commitment to the environment and to fiscal responsibility."

The municipality offers these collection sites free to any resident because food scraps are the most significant component in Princeton’s waste stream. When residents place food scraps in the trash, they decompose in a landfill and produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Any resident can register for the program to divert food scraps from the landfill, which helps reduce pollution and improve overall quality of life.

"As someone who participates in Princeton’s food scraps program, it’s exciting to see it expanding to new locations around town. With the addition of new drop-off sites and upgraded waste bins, the system is now more convenient and accessible for everyone," said Leighton Newlin, Princeton Councilmember. "It’s one of the simplest ways to make a positive impact in our community."

The expansion of this program has been supported by a Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) grant from the federal government.

Most locations utilize green MetroSTOR bins that are unlocked by a keypad or smartphone app. A foot pedal enables hands-free operation of the unit, allowing you to dispose of food scraps without touching anything. After residents register and are approved for the program, they are provided with the code to access the unit closest to their home.

Since its inception in October 2023, the food scraps drop-off program has diverted more than 50 tons of organics from the landfill. So far, nearly 500 households are helping Princeton to reduce landfill waste, produce clean energy, and provide soil amendments for New Jersey farms. The program now averages 1,500 pounds per week, up from 850 pounds per week at its onset.

All food scraps collected are taken to be processed by Trenton Renewables, a local anaerobic digestion facility that uses the food scraps to generate electricity and soil amendments. Based on the amount of food scraps collected to date, Princeton’s emissions have been reduced by 27 MTCO2e per year, equivalent to growing 450 tree seedlings for 10 years, according to EPA’s Waste Reduction Model.

"The expansion of the food scraps collection program aligns perfectly with the Materials Management goals of Princeton’s Climate Action Plan," said Christine Symington, Executive Director, Sustainable Princeton. "We are pleased to support this effort by providing project and grant assistance to the Municipality to expand the locations to serve more households."

All residents within the Municipality of Princeton can participate in the program at no cost, regardless of where they live within Princeton.

For more information about Princeton’s food waste recycling program and its upcoming implementation, visit the project page or contact engineering@princetonnj.gov.