Composting

The Town of Grafton is proud to introduce its first town-wide curbside composting program in partnership with Black Earth Composting! This program will allow all residents to sign up for bi-weekly curbside composting pick-up. Residents who are interested in the program can sign up through the Black Earth Composting website. The first 500 residents who sign up will receive a free composting starter kit which includes a 13 gallon bin with a locking lid for curbside collection and a years supply of composting liners. When signing up for the program, be sure to put "Town of Grafton" in the Organizational Referral section. The program will cost $15.99 per month, or $89.99 for six months. When more than 500 households have signed up, the price will be lowered by 30%, and this saving will be applied automatically to your next renewal payment. 

Residents are encouraged to sign up quickly to get these benefits, bins are still available for the first 500 sign ups! You can sign up through the link below, and after registering you can collect your starter kit from the DPW Barn at 64 Old Westboro Road, during normal business hours!

Button - Sign Up Opens in new windowIf you have already signed up, but have questions about the program, you can contact Black Earth Compos directly at 978-290-4610, or at residential@blackearthcompost.com! 

About the Program

Food scraps and other organic materials collected by BEC will be brought to their compost facilities and processed into nutrient dense finished compost. Each resident who signs up will receive a voucher in the spring for a free bag of Compost, which can be redeemed at a participating location in the area. 

Composting is a great way to divert food waste from the waste stream, and keep the household cost of waste disposal low. Every pound of food waste that is composted is another pound that is not going into your PAYT bags. Additional information on the program can be found on the Black Earth Website, by clicking here.

Compostable Materials Guide - what can go into Black Earth Compost Bins?

Food Waste 

  • COFFEE GROUNDS & FILTERS
  • EGGS & EGGSHELLS
  • MEAT & SEAFOOD (incl. bones, shells, & raw)
  • LOBSTER SHELLS (makes the compost rich)
  • FRUITS & VEGGIES (incl. stems, skins, pits, seeds, corn cobs, fruit from trees) (stickers removed)
  • DAIRY (cheese, yogurt, etc.)
  • PASTA, GRAINS & BREAD
  • COOKIES, CAKE & CANDY
  • NUT & COCONUT SHELLS
  • COOKING OIL & GREASE (Solid fat, place directly in the bin.)

Household Items

  • WOOD (toothpicks, popsicle sticks, chopsticks, sawdust, small wood fruit containers)
  • STOVE, GRILL & FIREPLACE ASH (please tie off compostable bag)
  • WINE CORKS (cork, not plastic!)
  • PET FOOD
  • PET WASTE FROM RABBIT, CHICKEN, GUINEA PIG, HAMSTER & BIRD (incl. bedding) (no dog or cat) ● HAIR, FUR, FEATHERS (human & animal)
  • HOUSE PLANTS
  • PUMPKIN (remove candle and decorations, one per pick up, place on top of bin)

Food Soiled Paper & Compostables

  • Clean paper and cardboard are better recycled. We take the following items that are food soiled, but not chemical or cleaner soiled.
  • NAPKINS & PAPER TOWELS (incl. bleached) (used on food or w/ organic certified household cleaner)
  • COMPOSTABLE TABLEWARE: CUPS, PLATES, UTENSILS, ETC. (MUST be certified compostable*)
  • EGG CARTONS & PAPER TOWEL TUBES
  • NEWSPAPER for wrapping food (recycle otherwise)
  • CARDBOARD Pizza Boxes (please recycle first if accepted in your town)