Where to drop off food waste across D.C.

Since launching in 2017, D.C.’s weekly food-waste drop-off program has received more than 700,000 pounds of fruit and vegetable scraps from more than 1,700 households, according to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office. That’s roughly one pound for every resident of the District.

Now, while summer is still here, city officials are promoting the program, which takes place at nine farmers markets in D.C. “Disposing of food waste in responsibly is one small way we can all help protect the environment and build a more sustainable city,” Bowser commented in a statement recently. She added that D.C. aims to divert 80 percent of waste from landfills.

Under the program, collected food scraps are converted into compost, which is then used to enrich soil. Residents can dispose of their food waste in sealed containers and keep them in the refrigerator or freezer until going to one of the nine farmers markets. Those markets are:

Columbia Heights Farmers Market, 14th and Kenyon streets NW (Ward 1)

Dupont Circle Farmers Market, 1500 20th Street NW (Ward 2)

Glover Park/Burleith Farmers Market, 34th Street and Wisconsin Avenue NW (Ward 2)

University of District of Columbia Farmers Market, 4340 Connecticut Avenue NW (Ward 3)

Uptown Farmers’ Market 14th and Kennedy streets NW (Ward 4)

Brookland Farmers Market, 716 Monroe Street NE (Ward 5)

Eastern Market, 635 North Carolina Avenue SE (Ward 6)

Minnesota Avenue Farmers Market, 3701 Hayes Street NE (Ward 7)

Ward 8 Farmers’ Market, 3200 6th Street SE (Ward 8)

A map of the locations, courtesy of the city, follows below. Some of the farmers markets are seasonal and open on only Saturday or Sunday, so be sure to check the hours and dates here. Also, keep in mind that certain food items, including dairy, meat, and fats, are not accepted.