Project Oscar
Project Oscar is Boston’s 24-hour community compost pilot program.
Project Oscar compost bins give communities a place to drop off residential food scraps to be made into compost. There are currently 15 locations throughout Boston. You can find more information below about where the compost bins are located and what you can put into the bins.
The City of Boston partners with Black Earth Composting for the food waste collection of these Project Oscar bins. Black Earth collects the food scraps and brings them to their composting sites in Manchester, Groton, and Framingham, MA. The food waste is converted into a nutrient rich compost, which is then sold in bags to garden centers around New England, as well as in bulk to farmers and gardeners! Black Earth's mission is to keep food scraps in the food chain.
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Have questions? Contact:
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOCKED BINS
Starting in September 2023, three of the Project Oscar bins will be locked (East Boston, South End, and Dorchester- Hero Hope Garden). In order to get into the bin: Open the small lock covering on top of the bin, Press I and II (at the same time), then press IV, then turn the lever, and open up the lid while the lever is still turned!
Please make sure to close the lid and the lock covering after you finish dropping off your food scraps. Thank you!
List of locations
East Boston, at Memorial Stadium Park, adjacent to the playground on Thompson Drive - NEW LOCATION AS OF 9/15/2023
Brighton, at Boston Green Academy, 20 Warren Street, Brighton.
North End, in the Nazzaro Center parking lot on North Bennet Street.
Roxbury, at the Egleston Square Library on Columbus Ave
Mission Hill, at the Tobin Community Center, 1481 Tremont Street
Roslindale, at the Municipal lot on Taft Hill Terrace
Brighton, at Faneuil Gardens Apartments in the west parking lot across from McKinney Playground
Jamaica Plain, in the parking lot of the Curtis Hall Community Center at 20 South Street
City Hall Plaza, at 1 City Hall Square, Boston.
Charlestown, on Austin Street, in the parking lot of the 99 Restaurant
South Boston, at 450 West Broadway Street
Dorchester, at the Hero Hope Garden, 424 Geneva Ave
South End, at the South End Branch Library, 685 Tremont Street
Hyde Park, at 1234 Hyde Park Ave
Dorchester, at the Codman Square library, 690 Washington Street
What you can compost with Project Oscar
What you can compost- Fruit and vegetable scraps, peelings, pits, and seeds
- Eggshells and nutshells
- Rice, pasta, cereal
- Bread, pastries, cookies
- Coffee grounds and coffee filters
- Teabags
- Cut or dry flowers
- Napkins, paper towels, paper plates
- Cardboard take-out containers
- Wine corks
- Wooden coffee stirrers
- Compostable plastics and bags
- Meat, fish, bones
- Dairy products
- Cheese
- Fats, grease, oils
- Pet waste
- Charcoal
- Yard waste (Find your leaf and yard waste collection schedule)
- Cigarette butts
- Dryer lint, dryer sheets
- Styrofoam
- Plastic bags
Project Oscar Locks
Project Oscar bins can be used to compost personal food scraps by anyone who lives in Boston. Starting in September 2023, the City of Boston will be piloting new locked bins at three sites: Dorchester (Hero Hope Garden), East Boston, and South End.
- Open the small lock cover on the top of the bin
- Press I and II (at the same time)
- Press IV
- Turn the lever
- Open the lid and dispose of your food scraps!
- Please make sure to close the lid and the lock covering after using the bin; thank you!
Store food scraps in a closed lid container. It’s convenient to have your container close to where you produce food waste. Keep your container on your kitchen countertop, by your trash can, or in your freezer. You will bring your food scrap container to your local Boston community food waste drop-off, so make sure it is easy to carry.
There is a full list of what is accepted at each community food waste drop-off program website. Check the Project Oscar page or the farmers markets food waste drop-off website for details. Please be sure to review the lists of what is accepted before you start dropping off your food waste. It is important to only drop-off accepted items so our food waste can be used to make compost.
If you would like, you can line your food scrap container with BPI-Certified compostable bags. These are available online and in most hardware and grocery stores.
When you return home from dropping off your food scraps, wash your bin in the sink. Put a little bit of dish soap inside, and rinse a few times with warm water. Throw a bit of baking soda in the bottom of your bin to freshen it up!
Thank you for participating in our programs, and for doing your part to make Boston a zero waste city!
Who's Involved:
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Have questions? Contact:
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOCKED BINS
Starting in September 2023, three of the Project Oscar bins will be locked (East Boston, South End, and Dorchester- Hero Hope Garden). In order to get into the bin: Open the small lock covering on top of the bin, Press I and II (at the same time), then press IV, then turn the lever, and open up the lid while the lever is still turned!
Please make sure to close the lid and the lock covering after you finish dropping off your food scraps. Thank you!
