Together, we have diverted over ONE MILLION POUNDS of food waste from the landfill! Thank you for your efforts in helping the City of Asheville/Buncombe County reach this important milestone! What a tremendous accomplishment!

Food Scraps Drop Off

The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in multiple locations for all Asheville and Buncombe County residents.  This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

Register for Food Scraps Drop Off

Poster with text: Food Scraps Drop-off, let's make compost! Instructions -- Remove all produce stickers, rubber bands, wrappers, ties, bags and plastics. Empty food scraps and compostable waste into the card. Close lid and secure doors when finished. Do not overfill.    Poster reads "Let's Make Compost!" Approved items with text "Yes! All foods (raw, cooked, scraps) and plant trimmings." paper products with text "Yes! compostable paper and plastic products." Materials can be collected loose and free. If you choose to bag your food scraps, use only paper bags or certified BPI compostable "bio bags." No other types of bags will be accepted. unacceptable items with text "NO! plastic bags and wrappers, plastic coated (shiny) take out boxes and plates, to-go hot and cold drink cups.

Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin?  Complete the registration form and you’ll receive a confirmation email with information on where to claim one!

Locations

Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center

85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander

    • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm

East Asheville Library – Green “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot

3 Avon Road, Asheville

    • Library open hours

Leicester Library –“Food Scrap Bin Shelters” located at the end of the parking lot near the garden

1561 Alexander Road, Leicester

    • Library open hours

Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot

749 Fairview Road, Asheville

    • Dawn – Dusk

North Asheville Community Center – Bins are adjacent to the parking lot on the Larchmont Road side of the Community Center

37 E Larchmont Rd, Asheville

    • Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 

Stephens-Lee Community Center – “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot

30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville

    • Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    • Sunday, 11 – 5 p.m.

Skyland/South Buncombe Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” located on the southwest side of the building and accessible via the parking area

260 Overlook Road, Asheville

    • Library open hours

West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building

942 Haywood Road, Asheville

    • Library open hours

Transfer Station – (please only use this drop-off site if you are already planning a trip to the Transfer Station for other waste disposal as it can be very congested in the lot!)

190 Hominy Creek Road, Asheville

    • Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Questions?

Check out this FAQ document or contact compost@ashevillenc.gov.

Backyard Composting

For information on why and how to compost – check out the Asheville Greenworks composting resource page and video.

poster providing guidelines on how to compost, what paper goes where, where to drop off food scraps.

poster provides guide to Backyard Composting 101. Include nitrogen rich fresh greens and carbon rich dry browns, keep out meat, food cooked with grease, dairy products, snack wrappers, certified compostable products, plastic-coated to go containers, to-go hot and cold drink cups and plastic-coated paper plates.

view text only version of these graphics

Food Waste Reduction

There are lots of reasons and ways to reduce our food waste at home and in our community. Check out these great tips! 

  • Conduct a home food waste audit and share your observations with your friends and the local food waste community.
  • Keep an eye on the Food Waste Solutions WNC’s website and @wncfoodwaste social media for fun community challenges, events, and prizes to reduce food waste!
  • Look for the “Save the Food Asheville” logo on sanitation trucks, social media and around town as we collaborate with community partners to share tips and tricks to keep food out of the landfill. 
  • Use our Save the Food quick reference guide and see that reducing food waste is as easy as 1, 2, 3 (4!) 
  • Share a cooking tip, photo of your compost bin, or other resources using hashtags #savethefoodavl and #savethefoodwnc to keep the conversation going!