Dive Brief:

• Officials in Tompkins County, New York have started to accept food scraps at its Recycling and Solid Waste Center.
• The county is hoping to keep 75% of waste out of its landfill by 2016.
• ​Beginning in November, the county will start a curbside collection pilot program for compostable materials that will reach 400 residences.

Dive Insight:

The county is already diverting 60% of its organic waste from the landfill, with the food scrap program expected to yield an additional 10%. An expansion to county-wide home pickup is expected to make up the last 5% to the county's goal. Acceptable food waste includes not only fruit and vegetable scraps, but also meat, dairy and bones. The recycling center is providing households with a complimentary kitchen caddy and compostable bags for convenience.