Fayetteville Organics Collection Program

Secure drop-off infrastructure helping residents recycle food waste and keep organics streams clean

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The Challenge

The City of Fayetteville is working toward an ambitious goal of diverting 40% of waste from landfill. Food waste represents nearly 20% of the city’s trash stream, making it a critical material to capture.

However, not all residents have access to curbside food waste collection. Many households – particularly those living in apartments or shared housing – need convenient public drop-off options in order to participate in composting programs.

The city needed a solution that could:

• Provide convenient 24/7 food waste recycling access
• Operate reliably in unattended public locations
• Maintain clean compostable material streams
• Prevent contamination from non-compostable waste

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The Solution

To expand its food waste recycling program, the city installed keypad-activated food waste drop-off units at several high-traffic community locations, including:

• Fayetteville Public Library
• Bryce Davis Park
• Veterans Memorial Park
• Ozark Mountain Smokehouse

The secure enclosures house 65-gallon food waste carts within durable steel structures designed for public environments.

Key features include:

• Numeric keypad access, allowing residents to obtain an entry code via QR code, phone number or online form
• Foot-pedal operated lid for simple, hygienic use
• Durable powder-coated steel construction designed for long-term outdoor use
• Clear instructional graphics showing accepted and prohibited materials

The controlled-access design helps ensure that only appropriate materials are deposited, protecting the quality of the collected organics.

The Results

The expanded drop-off network now allows residents to recycle food waste at any time, making composting accessible to households that may not have curbside service.

The system provides:

• Convenient 24/7 access to organics recycling
• Cleaner food waste streams with minimal contamination
• Improved participation in the city’s composting program
• Reliable infrastructure suitable for public locations

Food waste collected through the program is combined with commercial organics and processed into nutrient-rich compost, helping Fayetteville reduce landfill disposal and methane emissions.

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Client Perspective

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Key Takeaway

Fayetteville’s program shows how secure, access-controlled drop-off infrastructure can successfully expand organics recycling, particularly in communities where curbside collection is not universal.

By combining convenient locations, controlled access and clear guidance, cities can increase participation while maintaining clean compostable material streams.