Lansing is taking their first steps towards recovering food waste and turning it into something valuable. There is extensive information about the city's recycling, composting, and food scraps drop off on their website. The no-cost drop-off program was initiated earlier in 2024. All residents and businesses are invited to collect food wastes and drop them off at five locations for pickup. (The complete list of drop off locations can be found at the end of this article.) All locations now have collection bins to accept food wastes. The list of accepted food wastes and more details about collection and drop-off are available in the City’s Food Waste Flyer.Â
A Michigan Food Waste Roadmap report, published in 2024, calls for reducing food loss and waste by 50% by 2030. EGLE has much more information on their website. US EPA estimates food waste is responsible for 14% of total US methane emissions, and estimates that food waste was responsible for more than half of municipal solid waste landfill methane emissions in 2020.
Several local businesses and initiatives are working to create compost from organic waste that often ends up in landfills. Wastes are collected from the five Lansing drop-off centers each week by My Green Michigan. (See the Food Waste Flyer for details about the drop-off centers.) My Green Michigan trucks deliver Lansing area food wastes to Hammond Farms for composting. In addition, My Green Michigan also offers the public the option to drop off food waste at all five Hammond Farms retail stores during normal business hours for a fee of $2 per 5-gal bucket. They can also accept larger amounts at the Dimondale store for $14 per cubic yard. Hammond Farms sells the finished compost in a few different blends to homeowners, landscapers, and contractors.
Eastside Compost, a local cooperative, is already leading the way for local composting. Eastside started with bicycle pick-up, but strong growth in membership led to the need for automobile pickup during winter months. Eastside provides a clean, 3.5 gallon screw-top bucket delivered to each member’s door. Buckets are exchanged every other week for $16 or every week for $31 per month. A tight seal keeps the wastes contained, making composting easier than ever. Members are supporting this local compost business while helping the environment.
Meridian Township has options as well. Volunteers with their Good Food to Smart Composting are helping residents remove organics from the waste stream. You can also drop off food scraps at the Farmers Market and the Recycling Center. More info here.
MSU Community Extension is hosting a one day summit on February 27 at the MSU Henry Center to explore all aspects of urban agriculture, including food waste prevention and beneficial uses. The event is free but registration is required.
You can also find much more information about all aspects of the challenges in dealing with food waste problem at the REFED website.Â
CAFE is beginning work with Lansing’s Sustainability Department, My Green Michigan, Hammond Farms, Eastside Compost, other area businesses, and local governments to help identify many proven options for reducing food waste, converting the wastes to high-value, useful byproducts, and seeking opportunities to implement them locally. All CAFE supporters are welcome to join in and support this work. Please contact CAFE by email or via our contact form on our website to join in these efforts.
Food waste drop-off locations in Lansing:
Letts Community Center: 1220 W Kalamazoo St
Foster Community Center: 200 N Foster Ave
Gier Community Center: 2400 Hall St
Schmidt Community Center: 5825 Wise Rd
Fire Station 1: 120 E. Shiawassee St.
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