September 22, 2026
What happens to that apple core when you’re finished with it? In Ellsworth, it now has somewhere new to go! 🍎♻️
Today, September 22, 2026, the City of Ellsworth and Green Ellsworth celebrated the launch of the City’s free food scrap collection pilot program with a ribbon cutting at the Ellsworth Transfer Station. The celebration marked an exciting step forward in the community’s efforts to reduce food waste, make composting more accessible and find practical ways to manage the amount of waste sent for disposal.
The year-long pilot program is made possible through a state-funded Community Action Grant and is managed in partnership with Chickadee Compost, a local composting business based in Surry.
A Community Effort to Reduce Food Waste
The ribbon cutting followed a day of learning and conversation about food waste prevention at the Moore Community Center.
Green Ellsworth and the City welcomed Mark King of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Susanne Lee of the University of Maine’s Mitchell Center to discuss practical ways communities, municipalities, farms, businesses and nonprofit organizations can reduce and manage food waste.
The program also highlighted local and regional efforts already underway, including composting opportunities at the Transfer Station, curbside and neighborhood collection options, and school cafeteria composting.
Ellsworth Elementary Middle School is already participating in composting efforts, and Ellsworth High School is expected to begin later this fall, with support from Hannaford and the Community Action Grant secured by the City of Ellsworth and the Hancock County Planning Commission.
Ready to Give Composting a Try?
The City’s free food scrap collection pilot program offers residents another way to keep food scraps out of the waste stream. Whether you’re new to composting or have been looking for a convenient way to participate, we encourage you to learn more about the program and how to get started.
👉 Learn more about food composting in Ellsworth
A heartfelt thank-you to Green Ellsworth, Chickadee Compost, our grant partners and everyone who helped bring this program to life. We also thank the residents and community partners who help make food waste prevention part of everyday life in Ellsworth.
Here’s to making good use of our food scraps — one apple core at a time! 🍎
