Durham-Middlefield Composting Program

Food Scrap Recycling: It's Easy!

Durham-Middlefield Food Scrap Recycling project started in 2021.  All material collected is brought to Quantum Biopower, an anaerobic digestion facility in Southington, where it is turned into compost and renewable energy.

Here's How to Do It:

Purchase Your Starter Kit:

  • The $25 Starter Kit fee includes:
  • A two-gallon countertop pail
  • A six-gallon home storage and transportation bin (both covered)
  • A roll of 25 compostable bags for your countertop pail
  • Kits can be purchased at:
    • The Middlefield Land Use/Building Department (Middlefield Community Center, 405 Main Street) -  860-349-7123
    • First Selectman's Office at the Durham Town Hall (30 Town House Road, Durham)  - 860-349-3452
    • DMIAAB Transfer Station
    • Cash accepted. Checks can be made out to: "Coginchaug Area Transition" (with "Compost" in memo line).

Collect your food scraps in the countertop pail, lined with a compostable bag.

Transfer food scraps into the six-gallon bin for weekly storage.

  • Most residents will fill the two-gallon countertop pail with food scraps 3 to 4 times per week, which can then be transferred into the six-gallon bin. It is recommended that food storage bins be kept indoors, either in the house or in the garage.

Bring your bin to the DMIAAB Transfer Station.

Drop-Off Location & Hours

The Food Scrap Recycling drop-off bins are located at the DMIAAB Transfer Station on Cherry Hill Road in Middlefield, right over the Durham town line. Participants must have a current DMIAAB Transfer Station sticker, which can be purchased at the Transfer Station site. This will allow access all other services on the site as well as the Food Scrap Recycling program.

Look for the blue bin near the yellow "Compost" sign near the "Ash" and "Metal" disposal locations to dispose your Food Scraps.

The DMIAAB Transfer Station is open on:

  • Mondays and Thursdays;  8 am to 7:45 pm,
  • Saturdays;  8 am to 3 pm

Accepted Items

All food, including:

  • Fruits and Vegetables (remove stickers, bands, ties)
  • Meat and poultry (bones ok)
  • Fish and shellfish (shells ok)
  • Dairy Products
  • Bread and Pasta
  • Rice and Grains
  • Egg Shells
  • Chips and Snacks
  • Nuts and Seeds
  • Leftover, Spoiled, and Expired Food (cooked ok)
  • Coffee Grounds (paper filters ok) and Tea Bags (no staples)
  • Paper Towels and Napkins
  • Cut Flowers
  • Compostable Bags and paper bags (no plastic bags)

Items Not Accepted or Never Allowed

  • Plastic bags, plastic packaging, and plastic wrappers. Plastic does not biodegrade and therefore will contaminate the compost. Use only compostable bags, paper bags, or no bags.
  • Baby/Hand wipes. They are synthetic, do not biodegrade and will contaminate the compost.
  • Pet waste.

Information

For questions on the program, please email the Compost Program.