SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited News Release/KY3) – Springfield’s Department of Environmental Services announced the Dish to Dirt Food Scraps Drop-Off Program has transitioned from a pilot project to a permanent offering for all Springfield residents.
Launched in 2023 with support from a USDA grant, the Dish to Dirt Program offers residents a free and convenient way to recycle food scraps. Participants collect materials in the bright yellow bins provided through the program and drop them off at any of Springfield’s three recycling centers. From there, the food scraps are transported to the Yardwaste Recycling Center, where they are turned into nutrient-rich compost available for purchase by the community.
During the two-year pilot, residents recycled more than 145,000 pounds of food scraps, equivalent to filling roughly five large garbage trucks. Over 780 households and 3 area institutions participated, helping keep valuable organic material out of the landfill and instead giving it a second life as compost…