Curbside Food
Waste Recycling

Each resident who signs up will receive a clean 5-gallon receptacle, with an odor and critter proof lid, along with a supply of plant based compostable liners. If you run out of liners or need a few extra, those can be picked up at Bexley City Hall.

Before setting out your receptacle for collection, remove the lid and tie a knot at the top of the liner. Re-secure the lid and place the bucket (with tied liner) outside on the opposite side of your sidewalk, away from all other materials (solid/yard waste, recycling, and bulk materials). Your receptacle must be out for collection by 7:00 am on Mondays.

Please read the following information carefully before registering for the program:

• Sign up by January 30 and receive a bucket and liner by the week of February 13
• Sign up by February 27 and receive a bucket and liner by the week of March 13
• Sign up by March 27 and receive a bucket and liner the by week of April 10
• Sign up by April 24 and receive a bucket and liner the by week of May 8
• Sign up by May 30 and receive a bucket and liner the by week of June 12
• Sign up by June 26 and receive a bucket and liner the by week of July 10
• Sign up by July 31 and receive a bucket and liner the by week of August 14
• Sign up by August 28 and receive a bucket and liner the by week of September 11
• Sign up by September 25 and receive a bucket and liner the by week of October 9
• Sign up by October 30 and receive a bucket and liner the by week of November 13
• Sign up by November 27 and receive a bucket and liner by the week of December 11
• Sign up by December 26 and receive a bucket and liner by the week of January 15

Once registered in our program, you will receive 13 liners in your container - use one per week. Place the liner in the container allow­ing 2" - 3" of the liner to drape over the top of the container. Secure it by ty­ing it off, using a rubber band, or a spring-loaded clip. If you run out of liners, more can be picked up from Bexley City Hall – call (614) 559-4200 to arrange a pickup! 

Your container does not have to be full to be set out. Fresh is best! Set out your container at least every other week.

What Can Be Composted?

• Bones

• Cheese

• Coffee Grounds & Filters

• Compostable Serviceware

• Eggs & Other Proteins

• Fruit & Vegetables

• Greasy Pizza Boxes

• Meats & Fish

• Newspaper

• Paper Towels, Napkins, & Plates

• Parchment Paper 

• Shells (Incl. Nuts & Egg)

• Tea & Tea Bags

• Tissues

• Unwaxed Paper & Cardboard

What Can't Be Composted?

• Bulk Oils & Fats 
• Plastic, Glass, Foil, or Metal
• Chemicals
• Wood
• Styrofoam 
• Animal Waste (of any kind!)

Just remember: "If it grows, it goes!"

The night before pick-up day, remove the con­tainer lid and tie a knot in the top of the liner. Replace the lid and set the container, with the liner inside, at the curb for pick-up. Households who normally fill up 90% or more of the container each week can request a second liner so each can be tied off easily.

By 7:00 am on Mondays, place your container on the opposite side of your normal trash, recycling, or yard waste so the other service providers do not confuse it with something they should remove.

To keep your container smelling fresh, an occasional quick cleaning with warm water and dish soap works well. While this isn't required, it will eliminate the possibility of smell in the future.

Food waste recycling is an easy way to do your part to improve our soil, water, and air. Food waste that goes to our local landfill creates methane, which is 25x more harmful to our atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

Since this program has started, we've diverted over 480 tons of food waste from the landfill. A little bit goes a very long way!

Follow these tips to keep your food scrap bucket odor and critter free! 

Tip 1: Put a Lid on It
Always keep your organics bucket closed to prevent insects and critters from getting into your food scraps. You don’t want excess moisture either so if you keep your bucket outdoors, make sure the lid keeps water out.

Tip 2: Store in Cool or Shady Area
Under a cabinet, in a shady part of the yard or the garage are all good places to keep your bucket. Don’t leave your bucket in the sun if you can help it. Food scraps degrade faster in warmer temperatures, so a warm pile is a stinky pile.

Tip 3: Empty Regularly
Empty your bucket every week in the summer and every other week in the winter to minimize odors and bugs.

Tip 4: Use Compostable Liners
Regular washing of your bucket will reduce odor and insect issues. Additionally, use a compostable liner to keep your bucket clean. You will receive one liner weekly when your bucket is emptied and you can obtain a couple of extra liners at Bexley City Hall. If you regularly require more, please order them yourself and ensure you are getting liners with a BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) certification.

Tip 5: Keep a Smaller Container for Meal Use
Having a smaller container for food scraps on your counter, in your fridge or freezer can be more convenient when prepping meals than transporting food scraps to your larger bucket multiple times a day. There are many types of bins available but something as simple as a plastic tub will work. A countertop container with a carbon filter or a bin kept in a fridge or freezer will be much better at minimizing odors.

Residents can now report a missed trash, recycling, yard waste, or compost pickup on their computer, smartphone, or tablet. Previously, any resident whose items were not collected during the normal pickup schedule had to call City Hall to report the miss.

To report a missed pickup online:

• Step 1: Visit bexley.org/reportamiss, or click the 'Report a Trash Miss' button on our homepage
• Step 2: Enter your information, including an email address or phone number if your report requires follow up
• Step 3: Press the 'Submit Report' button at the bottom of the page

Once an online report is made, the City immediately receives the information provided in the form. From there, we'll be able to send the report to the appropriate service provider–Rumpke or Earth Peak Organics–for pickup. If you'd like to report your miss over the phone, that's fine too! This new service is not mandatory for reporting.

If you have questions, check out the FAQ at the bottom of the page on bexley.org/reportamiss. If you still have questions, give us a call at (614) 559-4220!

Toters are available at the far end of the City Hall parking lot for residents to drop off extra food waste that did not fit into their bucket or missed items that were not picked up. Use of these is free of charge and they are always open and available. 

Bexley has historically been a leader in green initiatives, from our being the first community in central Ohio to recycle some 15 odd years ago, to the purchase this year of renewable energy to power the City’s facilities, streetlights, and traffic lights. Bexley City Council has taken a pivotal next step by approving the Bexley Zero Waste Plan, which is a long-term strategic plan designed to dramatically reduce the amount of solid waste that goes to the landfill, diverting it instead to next-generation recyclable and reusable streams.

One of the recommendations of the Bexley Zero Waste Plan is for the City to begin working towards diverting food waste away from landfills.  

Food waste recycling is not a new concept. Think of it as backyard composting, but for the entire community. We’ve been working on the concept of food waste recycling in the years since, and only recently have we had an eligible provider and a regulatory environment in central Ohio that would allow us to contemplate such a project.