Harvard Allston Farmers’ Market hosts composting program drop-off

Harvard’s Allston Farmers’ Market will host one of three drop-off locations for Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s pilot program to allow Boston residents to drop off compostable food scraps for free. The other two locations are Eggleston Square and Bowdoin-Geneva. The pilot program is the City of Boston’s first public composting program and kicks off Friday, Aug. 9, at the Harvard Allston Farmers’ Market. As part of Harvard’s commitment to sustainability, Schools and departments across the University have implemented front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house composting programs to reduce waste.

“Residents have made it clear that they support a healthier, cleaner Boston that supports local agriculture, healthy food, and waste reduction,” Menino said. “This pilot will show residents how separating food scraps from trash is better for the environment and our bottom-line.”

The Harvard Allston Farmers’ Market drop-off location will be open at 168 Western Ave. on Fridays between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. from Aug. 9 to Oct. 25. According to the City of Boston, food scraps collected during the pilot program will be hauled to Rocky Hill Farm in Saugus, Mass., where they will be transformed into fertile soil for use in commercial and personal farming and gardening.

Read the Mayor’s press release on this initiative for more information items that can and can not be deposited, as well as other drop-off locations.