Orange County Residents Embrace Food Waste Composting Pilot Program

When Orange County launched its Residential Food Waste Diversion and Composting Pilot Program earlier this year, residents were eager to get involved.

More than 600 people expressed interest in participating, demonstrating strong community support for reducing landfill waste and embracing sustainable practices that make a difference.

Launched in spring 2026 by Orange County’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience and the Utilities Solid Waste Management Division with great support from the Board of County Commissioners, the pilot offered eligible households two free options: a backyard composting bin or a trial of a food waste collection service.

The initiative addressed a significant challenge. Millions of pounds of waste enter the Orange County Landfill daily, with food waste accounting for approximately 10 percent of the total. Composting offers an alternative by transforming food scraps into nutrient-rich material that improves soil health.

“As Orange County continues to grow, we must be thoughtful about how we manage our resources and plan for the future. This pilot program allows us to learn from our residents, evaluate different approaches to reducing waste, and determine how we can build on these efforts to benefit our community for years to come,” said Mayor Jerry L. Demings.

Before launching the pilot, the County partnered with the University of Florida IFAS Orange County Extension Office to survey residents about composting knowledge, interests and potential barriers. More than 1,000 responses helped shape the program.

“Considering this is a brand new initiative, we were thrilled to see so many Orange County residents wanting to participate,” said Ryan Chabot, sustainability specialist with the Office of Sustainability and Resilience.

Seven composting workshops attracted more than 330 attendees, while more than 220 residents began participating by receiving a composting bin or collection service trial. Among those expressing interest, more than 70 percent said they wanted to reduce landfill waste and could use finished compost at home.

Although participant enrollment concluded in August, the program’s return on investment extends beyond immediate waste reduction. While measurable diversion totals and cost savings are not yet available, the pilot has already provided valuable insight into residents’ willingness to adopt sustainable practices and the resources needed to support them.

“Providing participants with this knowledge and first-hand experience is, perhaps, one of the Pilot’s greatest assets,” asserted Chabot, “as they can now be our ‘sustainability champions’ and share that knowledge and experience with their friends, family and wider community.”

The initiative supports Orange County’s Sustainability Operations and Resilience Action Plan goal of reducing per-customer landfill disposal tonnage by 15 percent. Participant feedback will help determine how the County expands and improves the program, including more accessible workshops, streamlined enrollment and additional service options.

For Chabot, watching residents share what they have learned has been most gratifying.

“One of my favorite stories from the pilot so far is a participant whose daughter and granddaughter save food scraps at their home now, too, and bring them over to grandma’s house to contribute to the composting bin,” he said.

That enthusiasm, spanning three generations, illustrates how a small change at home can inspire broader community participation in building a more sustainable Orange County.

For more information, go to Residential Food Waste Diversion and Composting Pilot Program.

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