Buffalo Expands Curbside Compost Program for Residents

The city is adding 400 households to its voluntary curbside collection service to reduce landfill waste.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Organic Food

Bold vector editorial illustration featuring a green compost bin on a sidewalk next to garden plants, representing sustainable waste management. — Buffalo is expanding its Scrap It! curbside compost program, adding 400 households to the city's effort to divert organic waste from landfills. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Buffalo is expanding its Scrap It! Curbside compost collection program to accommodate more local households. The initiative aims to reduce the volume of organic matter sent to landfills by adding over 400 new residences to the service in the coming weeks.

Why it matters

Expanding curbside composting provides a practical way for Buffalo households to divert organic waste from landfills. This growth is part of a broader city strategy to manage municipal waste more sustainably.

The city reports that 400 new households will be added to the program, which currently has 500 residents on a waiting list. While the program aims to divert 6,000 tons of organic matter, the total impact will depend on household participation rates.

The players

City of Buffalo

The local government responsible for municipal waste management and sanitation services in Buffalo, N.Y.

The details

The Scrap It! program operates on a voluntary basis where participants register for collection services. By collecting organic scraps curbside, the city effectively prevents these materials from being processed as traditional landfill waste. The program has evolved from a 2018 drop-off initiative to the current curbside model, which now serves thousands of single-family homes.

2018: Program started as a compost drop-off initiative.
2023: Buffalo began the current curbside collection model.
Coming weeks: More than 400 households will be added to the program.
Next five years: The city aims to serve at least 10,000 residents total.

Health Landscape

Buffalo's program expansion aligns with regional efforts to divert food waste, following the trend set by New York State's food scraps recycling mandates. This move reflects a broader shift in municipal sanitation toward reducing organic waste in local landfills.

Residents interested in reducing household waste should check their eligibility for the voluntary Scrap It! program. Since registration operates on a first-come, first-served basis, interested households should monitor the city website for enrollment openings.

The takeaway

Composting at home helps minimize organic waste and contributes to larger environmental sustainability goals. Residents should contact the City of Buffalo sanitation department to inquire about program availability and to confirm if their household is eligible for upcoming service cycles.