Food Waste
Did you know that food waste makes up more than 40% of Natick's residential trash?
Composting food waste is an important way to reduce trash, lower greenhouse gas emissions and build healthy soil. With support from MassDEP, the Town of Natick offers programs to help residents compost food waste in their backyards or through curbside collection.
Curbside Composting
Black Earth Compost provides weekly curbside collection services in Natick for a fee of $114.99 per year. If 1,500 Natick customers enroll, the price will drop to $89.99 per year for all participants. Residents can sign up at BlackEarthCompost.com.
Black Earth Compost requires participants to line their bin or bag food waste using certified compostable bags. The Town partners with select Pay-As-You-Throw vendors, including Tilly and Salvy's Bacon Street Farm and Roche Bros, to sell discounted compostable bags.
First Year Discount on Curbside Composting
The Town of Natick provides participants with a free curbside composting bin and offers a 10% discount for the first year of collection services with the coupon code NEWNATICKHOME.
Do you curbside compost with a different private hauler? Contact Natick's Sustainability Director at jwmartin@natickma.org to receive a free compost bin and a year one subscription discount.
Weatherize Your Home to Receive a Free Year of Curbside Composting
Insulating your home has many benefits. It can lower heating and cooling costs, result in fewer drafts and quicker heating, reduce your carbon footprint, and - for a limited time - earn Natick residents a free year of curbside composting!
As part of a special promotion, Natick residents who complete approved Mass Save® weatherization projects from 10/1/2023 to 6/30/2024 are eligible to receive one free year of curbside composting. Interested residents can take these steps to participate:
1) Complete a No-cost Home Energy Assessment
Call 508-714-7368 or visit MassSave.com to schedule your Mass Save Home Energy Assessment. An energy specialist will evaluate your home virtually or in-person and recommend weatherization upgrades. Mass Save sponsors cover 75-100% of approved insulation and air sealing costs
2) Schedule your project
Work with an approved contractor to complete some or all of the recommended weatherization projects and acquire a Certificate of Completion.
3) Submit your Certificate of Completion
Submit your certificate of completion here Version Options Food Waste Headline Special Weatherization Incentive to receive one year of curbside composting with Black Earth Compost (valued at $114.99).
Qualifying households must complete the Mass Save-approved weatherization project between October 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024 and submit their Certificate of Completion by August 30, 2024. Projects completed prior to October 1, 2023 and after June 30, 2024 are not eligible.
Backyard Composting
Backyard composting is a simple way to produce fertilizer for your lawn and garden. Food waste, such as vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, egg shells, fruit rinds, as well as lawn clippings and leaves, can be safely composted in your yard. Residents should avoid backyard composting meat, bones, and fatty foods such as cheese. These belong in the trash or a curbside composting program.
Natick residents can purchase the Earth Machine backyard composting bin at a discounted rate of $25, through Natick's online payment system. Public Works will deliver it to your home.