Food waste composting at the Transfer Station

We are thrilled to offer household food waste composting at the Transfer Station. The “beach hut” at the far end of recycling has a couple of bins for you to drop off your compostable food waste.

In cooperation with Black Earth Compost (BlackEarthCompost.com)
Paid for by a Grant from Massachusetts DEP

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Plastic bags in food compost bins

Please do not put plastic bags of any kind into the food compost bins at the Eastham Transfer Station — if plastic is found, Black Earth Compost will refuse to collect the load. Even “biodegradable” or “plant-based” plastic bags are not accepted unless they are certified compostable. Only bags or containers labeled with official certification logos from BPI, TÜV, or CMA are allowed, as these are designed to fully break down in industrial composting systems.

Paper bags are also accepted and a great plastic-free option for lining your countertop bin or holding food scraps. They break down naturally and won’t contaminate the compost. You can even use paper grocery bags, takeout bags, or small lunch bags — just be sure they’re not waxed or coated with plastic.

Using the right bags helps keep Eastham’s compost clean and ensures that every load can be turned into nutrient-rich soil instead of being rejected and wasted.

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Composting at home

Start a compost pile in your yard : You can easily create a compost pile in your yard for free. All of your fruit and vegetable waste can go in a designated spot (but not dairy products, meat, bones, or fish).

Don’t be intimidated – while creating good soil from food takes time, it works well if you just throw it in a pile and mix it up with dry leaves and other materials every once in a while.

Generally, animals stay away from composting spots since they are mixed with natural materials, and decomposed materials can be later spread in your garden areas.

Backyard compost bins

• Backyard compost bins are available for purchase at the Eastham Transfer Station Gate House. Since 2022, it’s illegal in Massachusetts to throw textiles in the trash. Textile recovery like this is one way the state aims to reduce solid waste and meet its climate goals.

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Volunteers Wanted

The Eastham Waste Reduction & Recycling Committee is looking for new members—and community volunteers—to help strengthen our waste-reduction efforts. If you’re not ready to join the committee formally, you can still make a big difference by lending a hand on upcoming projects, including:

• Creating updated signage for the Recycling Center
• Developing a display about plastic contamination in food-waste compost
• Writing the monthly newsletter
• Assisting with a traveling compost-education workshop around town
• Working a shift at an info booth at a town event or the transfer station
• Planning future initiatives
• And more!

Whether you have an hour to spare or want to take on a small project, we’d love your help. Reach out to recyclingcommittee@eastham-ma.gov and get involved!

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Upcoming Events

• Apr 21 @ 5pm: Waste Reduction & Recycling Committee Meeting (Eastham Town Hall) The agenda is available on the town website.
• 2026–2027 Beach & Transfer Station Stickers
  • Mail in Applications will start being processed April 1st
  • Online Sticker sales will begin on May 1st
  • Sticker Office Windows for in-person sales will open
    June 4th
• Apr 27-28 : “Big Blue, Green Tomorrow: Connecting the
  Dots” conference at Falmouth High School
  • Presented in Partnership by the Cape Cod Blue
    Economy Foundation, the Cape Cod Climate Change
    Collaborative & the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
• Apr 24 @ 11am-2pm : Regional Health & Environment Fair
  in Harwich
  • https://www.capecod.gov/event/regional-health-
    environment-fair/