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08/21/2026

If you are interested in learning about home composting— backyard, balcony or in-home composting— DPW is hosting in-person workshops on Friday, Aug. 28th from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm and Saturday, Aug. 29th from 11 am to 2 pm.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/home-composting-workshops-4861218

Space is limited to 30 participants in each workshop.

Participants may be eligible for up to a $75 rebate towards their purchase of an approved composting system.

Learn more at zerowaste.dc.gov/homecomposting

08/12/2026

Good News for Safe Battery Disposal in DC!

August through December 2026, you will find battery drop-off boxes available at eight farmers markets and community sites every weekend across DC.

In addition to accepting food waste and food-soiled paper for composting, the drop-off tents at select farmers markets will accept single-use (primary) and rechargeable household batteries under 11 lbs.

DC residents are encouraged to bring their old small-format batteries to one of these convenient public locations for safe disposal.

Drop-off locations (look for the blue Zero Waste DC tent):

SATURDAYS (9am-1pm)

- Mount Pleasant Farmers Market, 3200 Mt Pleasant Street NW (Ward 1)
- Uptown Farmers Market, 14th Street NW & Kennedy Street NW (Ward 4)
- Monroe Street Farmers Market in Brookland, 716 Monroe Street NE (Ward 5)
- Eastern Market, 635 North Carolina Ave SE (Ward 6)
- Lederer Gardens, 4801 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave (Ward 7, starting Aug 22)
- Marion Barry Avenue Market in Historic Anacostia, 1303 Marion Barry Ave SE (Ward 8)

SUNDAYS:

- Dupont Circle Farmers Market, 8:30am-1:30pm, Hillyer Pl NW & Connecticut Ave NW (Ward 2)
- Palisades Farmers Market, 9am to 1pm, U Street NW & MacArthur Blvd NW (Ward 3)

Important Notes: Batteries and food waste should be kept separate for drop-off. DPW’s What Goes Where Tool, available at DPW.dc.gov, has been updated with this information.

To learn more about battery stewardship in DC, please visit: doee.dc.gov/page/batteryrecycling

08/06/2026

Starting Saturday, August 22nd, DC DPW’s Food Waste Drop-off Event in Ward 7 will move to Lederer Gardens at 4801 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave NE, Washington, DC.

Join us at this gem of a park on Saturdays mornings, from 9am to 1pm, in the front lawn near the entrance. Look for the blue tent that says “Zero Waste DC”.

DC residents may bring food waste and food-soiled paper for . Learn all the details about what is accepted and not accepted at zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff.

07/02/2026

Due to the holiday and increased activity in the area, there will be no food waste drop-off event at the SW Farmers Market this Saturday, July 4th. Residents are encouraged to use the nearby food waste drop-off event at Eastern Market, which will be open from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, or any of the 24-hour Smart Bins located citywide, including the Smart Bin on New Jersey Ave SE & M St SE.

Please note: This change only affects the SW Farmers Market drop-off event. All other food waste drop-off locations and 24-hour Smart Bins will continue to operate as usual.

03/27/2026

Roll Off Days in DC are back for 2026!

It's time to de-clutter, DC. Here is your opportunity to bring certain large, non-hazardous materials for disposal to the next Roll Off Day near you.

Roll Off Days are for DC residents and take place citywide (across all 8 wards). Find the complete list of events and RSVP online: tinyurl.com/RollOffDC

While registration is not required, it is appreciated so that we can anticipate attendance. RSVP today: tinyurl.com/RollOffDC

Questions? Call the organizing team at 202-442-8150, 10am-5pm, Monday-Friday.

Roll Off Days are currently organized by the Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services, and are supported by the DC Department of Public Works.

-----------------------

What's accepted at Roll Off Days?

✅ Accepted (including but not limited to):
> Old household furniture and clothing in disrepair that may not be donated
> Small + large toys that may not be donated (i.e., broken kiddie pools, playhouses, disassembled swing sets)
> Old mattresses and box springs (MUST be wrapped in plastic)
> Old bed frames
> Old rugs and carpets

❌ What's not accepted?
See the complete list: https://communityaffairs.dc.gov/page/items-not-accepted-roll-events

02/13/2026

UPDATE: All Weekend Food Waste Drop-offs in DC will operate as normal this weekend, February 14-15, 2026, with a slight location change in SW DC to the Southwest Duck Pond.

Due to the recent announcement of the closure and need to relocate Farmers Market SW to an new location, , with the help of and , was able to ensure continued public access to composting in SW DC. The new temporary home of the SW Food Waste Drop-off location is the beautiful Southwest Duck Pond.

Starting Saturday, February 14, 2026, the SW DC food waste drop-off will continue to offer its normal hours of operation, on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm, through the month of March at the Southwest Duck Pond, located near the intersection of 6th St SW & I St SW. This temporary location is ~2.5 blocks away from the previous location. Please join us at this cherished DC park for the time being.

For the latest information about DC DPW’s food waste drop-offs citywide, visit zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff.

01/27/2026

Two changes to food waste collection service this week:

1. Food waste collection will “slide” two days. Monday collection will slide to Wednesday, Tuesday to Thursday, Wednesday to Friday, Thursday to Saturday, and Friday to Sunday.

2. Food waste collection points will temporarily move to the FRONT. If you have back or side food waste collection, please move your food waste bin to the front of your home this week so our crew can avoid icy alleyways. Set your food waste bin at or near the curb such that it is visible, unobstructed, and easily accessible to our crew.

We appreciate your patience during this snow event.

01/22/2026

We are monitoring the forecast for this weekend's winter storm. ❄

Due to the anticipated snowfall and low temperatures, food waste collection & drop-off will be impacted.

Please continue to check the Food Waste Collection & Food Waste Drop-off webpages for updates.

See the links in our bio or visit zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastecollection, and
zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff

Notice to Food Waste Smart Bin Users: For your and our safety, please prioritize visiting your local smart bin on Friday or Saturday morning to avoid dropping off compostable materials during the winter storm.

*Update* All four Sunday Food Waste Drop-off Events are confirmed to be closed on Sunday, January 25, 2026. All Saturday Food Waste Drop-off Events will be open.

The four farmers markets that are closed on Sunday are:
- Dupont Circle Farmers Market,
- Trinidad Farmers Market,
- Bloomingdale Farmers Market, and
- Palisades Farmers Market

If you usually visit a Sunday Food Waste Drop-off Event, we suggest you take your compostable materials to a Saturday drop-off event instead.

01/03/2026

Happy New Year, DC! Welcome to your additional composting options.

Updates to DC Department of Public Works' Food Waste Drop-off Program include:

🍉 All weekend food waste drop-off events are year-round (no more seasonal-only events)
♿ More convenient & accessible drop-off options
🫛 Easy peasy: It’s simple to find your expanded food waste drop-off options on our website (view the drop-down list by Ward at zerowaste.dc.gov/foodwastedropoff).

👋 Ward 8: Hello, Historic Anacostia! Your new Saturday food waste drop-off (9am-1pm) is near 1303 Marion Berry Ave SE, in front of the Marion Berry Ave Market. This location is also convenient to southwestern Ward 7.

👋 Wards 1, 2, 5 & 6: Join us at nearby Sunday farmers markets in Trinidad (1299 Neal Place NW, 9am-1pm) and Bloomingdale (near intersection of 1st & R Sts NW, just north of Florida Ave, 9am-1pm)

Composting in DC has never been easier!

12/19/2025

DC, you really impressed us with your dedication to in 2025. Over 26,000 of your neighbors placed their food waste out for composting, showed up at a weekend drop-off event, or dropped their compostables at a 24/7 smart bins citywide. Keep up the great work. Working together, we are confident 2026 will be another year of growth.

Address

6th And I Streets, SW
Washington D.C., DC
20024

Website

http://zerowaste.dc.gov/

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