Dunedin Does Compost: New Food Scrap Pilot Program Launches

Published on March 18, 2026

Written by: Laura Valletti, City of Dunedin Environmental Specialist

We're not sure if you’ve heard yet, but Dunedin Does Compost, and we’re pretty excited
about it. Public Works is rolling out a new composting initiative, and we’re here to
plant some seeds about what composting is and what the City of Dunedin is doing to help it
grow.

Food Scrap Track Pilot Program
Our D.R.E.A.M. Team is launching a fun new initiative at the Downtown Dunedin Market: the
Food Scrap Track Pilot Program. This pilot will select 30 residents who drop off their
household compostable waste at the market each Friday. Beginning in July, drop-off shifts
to Saturdays when the market transitions to a new schedule.

The Goal - Give residents an easy way to participate in composting without managing a pile
at home. You collect your compostable waste, and we handle the decomposition magic.
This pilot helps us understand resident habits, gauge demand for a community drop-off
site, and plan for future organics recycling opportunities.

Here’s how it works:
• Apply here
• If selected, you’ll receive a UMI bin supplied by our community partner BioBag,
headquartered right here in Dunedin.
• Collect your compostable waste throughout the week.
• On market day, bring your bin to the Downtown Dunedin Market.
• Staff will weigh your weekly amount, and you’ll deposit your “waste” in the drop-off drum.
• Our partner Renuable will haul everything away and turn your scraps into that beautiful
black gold.

Whether you’re ready to join the pilot or just compost-curious, let’s start with the basics.

What Is Composting?
Composting is the natural decomposition process that transforms organic material like
food scraps, leaves, paper, and more into nutrient-rich soil, also known as “black gold.”
This happens constantly in nature, but we’re stepping in to help reroute compostable
material from the landfill to somewhere it can do some good. Most people don’t realize just
how much compostable “waste” they toss away each week.

Benefits of Composting
The environmental perks pile up fast. Here are a few to digest:
• lowers greenhouse gas emissions
• improves soil structure and reduces erosion
• boosts soil biodiversity
• supports carbon sequestration
• enriches soil and encourages healthy plant growth
• protects waterways by reducing nutrient pollution
• improves water retention—especially helpful in our sandy Florida soils

But here’s the benefit that hits closest to home: composting helps keep solid waste costs
lower for longer. Our landfill has an estimated 70-year life expectancy and big storm events
(yes, those delightful Florida hurricane seasons) can shorten that timeline. When a landfill
reaches capacity, disposal costs rise because waste must be transported further away.
Every bit of compostable material we divert helps slow that down.

Think of composting as the natural next step in Dunedin’s solid waste evolution. Recycling
felt unfamiliar when it debuted in the 1970’s and now in most households it’s second
nature. Composting is simply the next chapter in this process.

If you’re interested in composting at home, our low-waste events pilot, or any of our other initiatives, visit our website or contact the Environmental Specialist at laura.valletti@dunedin.gov.

It’s not “waste” until it’s wasted!