The Law: As of July 1, 2020, Vermont state law strictly bans all food scraps from the trash. This includes everything from fruit peels and coffee grounds to meat, bones, and leftovers. Keeping food waste out of the landfill is the single most effective way for residents to reduce methane emissions and combat climate change.

Option 1: Food Donation (The Highest Priority)

Before food becomes “waste,” the goal is to get it to neighbors in need. If you have quality, unexpired food, please consider donating it to a local food shelf.

• Rutland Community Cupboard: 65 River St, Rutland | (802) 775-0878

• BROC Community Action: 45 Union St, Rutland | (802) 775-0878

• Rutland County Parent-Child Center: 61 Pleasant St, Rutland | (802) 775-9711

• Find a Food Shelf Near You: Use the Vermont Foodbank Locator Tool to find a pantry in your specific town.

🏢 For Businesses: Be a Community Hero

Restaurants, markets, and institutions often have high-quality surplus food. Donating this food isn’t just a “nice thing to do”—it’s a smart business move that can lower your trash costs and support your neighbors.

• Liability Protection: Donors are protected by the Federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act, which shields businesses from liability when giving “apparently wholesome” food in good faith to a non-profit.

• Call Ahead: Every food shelf has different storage capacities. Businesses should call ahead to confirm what is currently needed (e.g., fresh produce vs. dry goods) and to coordinate a drop-off time.

Option 2: Feeding Animals

If your food is no longer fit for humans, it may be perfect for local livestock.

• Chickens: Many residents find local neighbors with chickens who are happy to take vegetable scraps and bread.

• Pigs: The Vermont Agency of Agriculture prohibits feeding pigs any food scraps that have touched meat or fish (including bones and juices) unless it is from your own house to your own pigs.

Option 3: Composting & Drop-Off

If the food is truly “scraps,” it belongs in the compost, not the bin.

• SWAC Town Transfer Stations: ALL SWAC transfer stations now accept food scraps. Simply collect your scraps in a bucket and dump them into the designated collection “toter” on-site. Check with your local station for specific container rules or small fees.

• Gleason Road Transfer Station: 14 Gleason Rd, Rutland | (802) 775-7209. Accepts all food scraps, including meat and bones. As of 2026, no permit is required to use this facility, though fees apply.

• Backyard Composting: Residents who compost at home are allowed to put meat and bones in the trash to avoid attracting bears, but all other scraps must stay out.

Option 4: Electric Food Recyclers (Indoor Solution) For those who want to avoid the “ick” factor of a countertop bin or live in areas where backyard composting is difficult due to wildlife, electric food recyclers (like the Vitamix FoodCycler) are an excellent indoor alternative.

  These generally fall into two categories:

• Food Recyclers (e.g., Vitamix FoodCycler, Mill, Lomi): These units use heat and grinding to turn food scraps into a dry, odorless “foodilizer” in just a few hours. They reduce waste volume by up to 90%, making it easy to store until you can drop it off at a transfer station or mix it into your garden soil.

• Microbial Composters (e.g., Reencle, GEME): These use specialized microbes to break down food naturally. Unlike dehydrators, they stay “on” 24/7 so you can add scraps whenever you want, and they produce ready-to-use compost.

Why consider an indoor unit?

1. Bear Safety: These machines are kept indoors and eliminate the odors that typically attract bears to backyard bins.

2. Convenience: A great year-round solution for Vermont winters when trekking to a backyard bin or transfer station is difficult.

3. Meat & Bones: Many modern units (like the FoodCycler Eco 5) can now process meat, fish, and small bones, which are usually prohibited in backyard piles.

Click here to see a Comparison of Electric Kitchen Composters to find the model that fits your household’s needs and budget.

⚠️ Public Safety Alert: Managing Food Scraps in Bear Country

In Vermont, “food waste” can quickly become “bear bait” if not handled correctly.

• Keep it Clean: If you compost at home, use a “brown and tan” ratio (3 parts dry leaves/wood chips to 1 part food scraps) to reduce odors.

• Secure Storage: If you store scraps outside for drop-off, use a bear-resistant container or keep your bucket in a garage or shed until the day you take it to the station. Never leave bags of scraps on the ground.

💡 Tips and Tricks

• The Freezer Trick: Keep a gallon-sized Ziploc bag or container in your freezer for food scraps. This eliminates smells and fruit flies in your kitchen.

• Check the Label: “Sell-by” and “Best-by” dates are usually about quality, not safety. Don’t toss food the second it hits that date—check it first!

• Reduce First: The average family of four can save over $1,500 a year by shopping their pantry first. Check out Wasted Food Solutions for great storage tips.