BIDDEFORD — The city of Biddeford is partnering with We Compost It! to provide a free composting program at the Recycling Center for all Biddeford residents.

To participate, residents can collect food waste at home and dump it in the compost collection bins at the Recycling Center during regular operating hours.

All organic food scraps, such as fruits, vegetables, meats and fish (including bones), eggshells, bread, rice, pasta, and baked goods, will be accepted through the program, as well as paper towels, napkins, coffee grounds and filters. Any other waste products, such as plastics, metals, and Styrofoam are not accepted.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, food waste makes up about 22 percent of discarded municipal solid waste, more than any other single material in the everyday trash.

“If more of this food waste can be diverted from Biddeford’s waste stream, it would lower the City’s costs for solid waste disposal significantly,” said Public Works Director Jeff Demers. “At the same time, composting helps the environment by reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and by creating healthier soil.”

We Compost It! will collect the organic waste from the Recycling Center each Tuesday and Thursday and will transform it into nutrient-rich compost.

Residents who participate in the program will be responsible for providing their own foodscrap collection containers for home use. Sure-Close Inc. kitchen pails that are designed to reduce food waste odors are available for purchase at the Recycling Center for $8 each.

For more information about the composting program, contact the Public Works Department at 282-1579 or visit www.wecompostit.com/.