Composting access expands with community food scrap drop-off bins
The City of Ann Arbor has installed food scrap drop-off bins at three locations in the city to make composting more accessible for residents without curbside cart collection service. To use the bins, residents must first complete an online application and be approved for the program. Approved participants will receive instructions for unlocking the bins through a mobile app. The bins remain locked to help prevent contamination and can only be opened by approved program participants.
Residents can learn more about the program and apply at a2gov.org/foodscraps.
Drop-off bin locations
- Ann Arbor Farmers Market — on the northeast corner of North Fifth Avenue and Detroit Street, across from the market
- Traverwood Branch Library — between the parking lot and sidewalk off Traverwood Drive, near the flagpole
- Esch Park — between the sidewalk and Esch Avenue, near the basketball court
Accepted food scraps
The following scraps are accepted in the drop-off bins, either deposited loosely or contained in brown paper bags:
- All food scraps, including meat, bones and solid dairy
- Coffee grounds, paper coffee filters and loose tea (no tea bags)
- Cut flowers and small houseplants
Access to bins
Approved participants will receive instructions for downloading and using the mobile app required to unlock the bins. For residents who do not have a smartphone or are otherwise unable to use the app, an alternative unlocking method via an emailed code will be provided.
Supporting sustainability goals
Beyond meeting the needs of residents, the food scrap drop-off program supports the city’s broader sustainability goals, particularly the A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality Plan. Expanding composting access to collect more food scraps supports one of the plan’s core strategies: transforming how materials are used, reused and disposed of.
Food scraps collected from the drop-off bins will be composted locally at the Ann Arbor Compost Facility, helping turn food scraps into a useful resource for our community. Each spring, all residents can “take back” up to one cubic yard of finished compost for use in home gardens. Check a2gov.org/compost in the spring for more information on free compost.
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Media Contact:
Robert Kellar, Communications Specialist, rkellar@a2gov.org