Newport Launches Free Curbside Food Scrap Composting Pilot Program
2-Year Pilot Project Offering 1,500 Residents with Free Composting
The City of Newport is excited to announce the launch of a free curbside food scrap collection pilot program, in partnership with 11th Hour Racing, Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, and Black Earth Compost.
This two-year program, running from October 5, 2025, to October 2, 2027, offers 1,500 eligible Newport residents free weekly compost collection (a $149.99/yr value) and a curbside bin starter kit ($36 value). Participants will receive clear instructions on how to compost in the program, a free cubic foot bag of finished compost each spring, and an online account to manage their service.
Eligibility: To be eligible for the pilot program, you must be a year-round resident and be able to place the provided compost bin on the street curb. If you live in a multi-unit building with limited street access, please reach out to Black Earth Compost to confirm service availability by emailing service@blackearthcompost.com.
What’s Compostable: Black Earth Compost, the service provider, accepts a wide range of materials, including meat, bones, dairy, and food-soiled paper products (like napkins and certified compostable serviceware) – items typically not suitable for backyard composting. Their motto is: “If it grows, it goes in the green bin!” A comprehensive list of accepted materials is available on the Black Earth website.
Why Compost: Composting is a powerful way to reduce waste, diverting up to 30% of your trash from landfills. Black Earth mixes these food scraps with leaves and sticks and transforms them into a nutrient-rich compost, enriching soil for local farms, community gardens, and your own backyard.
“This free composting pilot program is a practical step toward Newport becoming a model for coastal sustainability,” said Michelle Carnevale, president of 11th Hour Racing. “It is true that lasting environmental change starts locally, and this program gives residents a tangible way to be part of the solution. This initiative not only benefits the environment but also reinforces Rhode Island’s leadership in climate resilience.”
“Newport, like other municipalities in RI, is facing unprecedented increases in the cost of our solid waste removal”, says Eastern RI Conservation District Executive Director Sara Churgin. “Diverting food waste is an important part of that effort. Newport pays for waste removal based on a per ton rate, so programs that help reduce solid waste tonnage result in savings and they also benefit the environment. That’s why this new municipal curbside pickup program is so important for the community.”