East Grand Rapids residents will soon have a convenient new way to keep organic waste out of landfills, with the city launching a curbside composting service beginning April 6, 2026.

All properties within the city will be automatically enrolled in the program at no cost to residents, according to the City of East Grand Rapids.

What Can Residents Compost

The curbside service will accept two main categories of materials:

Food scraps including:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Pit, peels, nuts and shells
• Bread, grains, pasta and rice
• Coffee grounds and other natural vegetation materials

Yard waste including:

• Leaves and grass clippings
• Weeds and twigs
• Bush clippings and other natural yard vegetation

Mayor Emphasizes Sustainability

"The City of East Grand Rapids is proud to offer this new curbside composting service and offer a convenient way for residents to help keep food and yard waste out of the landfill," East Grand Rapids Mayor Katie Favale said.

"This expanded program demonstrates our longstanding commitment to the sustainability and long-term health of our community, supports our regional waste reduction goals and highlights our dedication to being good stewards of our environment."

Composting breaks down organic material into soil and nutrient-dense decaying matter, according to city officials. The resulting compost can be used to support gardens and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.

Building on Previous Sustainability Efforts

The new curbside service builds on work the city began in 2022, when it implemented a food scrap drop-off program. Residents could bring compostable materials to the Department of Public Works for no charge.

"East Grand Rapids has been a leader in sustainability and recycling for many years," said Doug La Fave, deputy city manager and director of Public Works. "This new composting program is the next step forward, making it easier for residents to take part in reducing organic waste and supporting a cleaner, greener community."

Drop-Off Service Still Available

The city continues to offer a drop-off service at its Public Works complex, which operates 24 hours a day. This service accepts additional materials beyond what the curbside program will collect, including:

• Meat, fish and dairy products
• Coffee filters
• Paper towels and napkins
• Tea bags
• Pizza boxes, paper containers and paper plates
• Shredded paper and cardboard (tape removed and cut into small pieces)

The expanded composting options align with Mayor Favale's environmental priorities. During her 2025 State of the City address, she outlined plans to expand the curbside composting program to include kitchen waste, increase the use of public recycling containers, and add electric car charging stations.