City Services on September 18, 2026

The Boston City Council Committee on City Services held a hearing on September 18, 2026, to discuss the status and future of the city's curbside food waste collection program, including the pilot program launched in 2022 and Project Oscar community drop-off locations. The discussion focused on program enrollment, expansion plans, cost considerations, and operational changes such as shifting from weekly to bi-weekly collection to improve efficiency and reduce costs by approximately $700,000. The panel detailed the current contract costs totaling over $70 million for waste services, with about $8 million allocated to food waste and related programs. Challenges highlighted included limited composting facility capacity, contamination issues, and the need for expanded regional composting infrastructure. Councilors emphasized the importance of outreach, education, and equitable access, especially in diverse neighborhoods, and discussed potential partnerships and policy alignment with upcoming state mandates on food waste. No formal votes or contract awards were reported, but the hearing underscored ongoing procurement and operational considerations for scaling the food waste program effectively and sustainably.