Plastic bags will no longer be permitted in the composting bins in South Portland. 

Beginning on April 1, Garbage to Garden, a compost company based in Portland that handles South Portland’s collection, will pick up food waste from the five free compost drop-off locations in the city and distribute it directly to local farms. 

The compost needs to comply with Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s standards for organic farms and gardens, so no plastics are allowed.

In the past, Garbage to Garden brought food waste to Agri-cycle, where plastic bags and other non-organic materials were removed. That will no longer be the process.  

What can you do:

• Line your compost bin with newspaper and paper bags to keep it clean (instead of plastic)
• Double check the items that you compost.
  • Allowed:
    • Vegetable and fruit scraps
    • Bread products
    • Meat, dairy and bones
    • Coffee grounds and loose tea
    • Plants not treated with pesticides
    • Napkins and paper towels
    • Cooking oil and fat
  • Not allowed:
    • Plastics (plastic wrap, twist ties, stickers, rubber bands)
    • Styrofoam
    • Chemicals
    • Glass
    • Coated paper
    • Yard or pet waste
• You can drop your compost off for free at these five locations:
  • City Hall (25 Cottage Road)
  • Golf Course Maintenance Building (221 Westbrook St.)
  • Planning & Development Office (829 Sawyer St.)
  • South Portland High School upper parking lot (along Highland Avenue)
  • Transfer Station (929 Highland Ave.)