Fairfax County adds composting drop-off site as farmers markets begin

A local effort to divert food from landfills, thanks to composting, is expanding.

Fairfax County is adding another farmers market, this one in Kingstowne, to its list of locations where people can drop off unused food for reuse.

People can drop off the food scraps during the farmers market hours, which for Kingstowne takes place 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays starting May 6.

Other farmers markets and sites that also allow for composting drop-offs include:

• Burke — 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays beginning this weekend (April 16)
• Herndon — from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursdays as of April 28,
• Mount Vernon — from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays starting next week (April 20)
• Mosaic District — from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays year round
• The I-66 Transfer Station and I-95 Landfill Complex — between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. every day of the week.

Fairfax County said in a news release yesterday (Wednesday) that the pilot program diverted 22 tons of food scraps last year. According to the county, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions eliminated by the effort was equivalent to taking 50 cars off the road.

In another area of growth for farmers markets, more vendors are also slated to participate this year as the seasonal staples return across the region.

Photo via Philip Cohen/Wikimedia