Food Scraps Recycling Program

The City of Portage partners with My Green Michigan to provide a Food Scraps Recycling Program. The program, provided to Portage citizens at no additional fee, is tailored to turn food scraps into rich, nutrient-dense soil for the environment. Diverting food waste to composting has additional benefits, including reducing pollution and landfill waste, and lowering methane emissions. This pilot program is a part of the city’s continuous efforts toward sustainability.

Portage citizens can easily recycle food scraps using a container at home, such as a lidded bowl, compostable bag, plastic container, countertop bin, or 5-gallon bucket. Simply visit one of the 10 convenient drop-off locations on your schedule and deposit your scraps into the 64-gallon lime green bins provided. My Green Michigan will empty the collection bins every other Tuesday. 

Food scrap recycling has never been easier and more accessible!

  1. If it GROWS, it GOES!
  2. When in DOUBT, leave it OUT!

ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS

  • BPI Certified Products (see information below)
  • Breads & Grains
  • Cooking Oil, Grease
  • Dairy Products
  • Eggshells
  • Fruits & Vegetables
  • Meat & Bones
  • Napkins & Paper Towels (Chemical Free)
  • Tea Bags, Coffee Grounds & Filters

How to Participate

  1. Place your kitchen pail in a convenient location in your kitchen and choose an optional liner (newspaper, paper bag, compostable bag).
  2. Toss all acceptable food scraps in the kitchen pail. 
  3. Empty your kitchen pail (and your compostable liner) into the specially marked lime green bins located at one of the ten drop-off locations.

Food Scraps Recycling Drop-Off Locations

  • WESTFIELD PARK
4500 West Milham Avenue
  • HARBORS WEST PARK
3458 Summersong Path
  • MARLOW STREET CUL-DE-SAC
Adjacent to Haverhill Elementary
  • PORTAGE CREEK BICENTENNIAL PARK
910 East Milham Avenue
  • LAKEVIEW PARK
9345 Portage Road
  • OAKLAND DRIVE PARK
7600 Oakland Drive
  • RAMONA PARK
8600 South Sprinkle Road
  • WEST LAKE NATURE PRESERVE
9001 South Westnedge Avenue
  • SCHRIER PARK
850 West Osterhout Avenue
  • LEXINGTON GREEN PARK
4750 Pittsford Street

BPI Certified Products

BPI Certified food service items (e.g., bags, cups, cutlery, wrappers, pouches, containers) are fully compostable. Look for the BPI Certification Mark to determine whether an item meets compostability standards. When choosing a liner for your kitchen pail, be sure to use newspaper or a paper bag, or a compostable bag with the BPI Certification Mark. Visit bpiworld.org for more information about compostability standards and certification.