How do I sign up ?

This service is currently only available in the City of Athens, The Plains, Nelsonville, and Chauncey. If you live in or close to these areas (or you business is ) fill out the form below.

26 million tons generated annually
3rd largest segment of the waste stream
Comprises 90% of Restaurants and Supermarkets waste stream
A typical household generates up to 475 pounds per year.
Backyard composting or participation in a compost collection service can help to prevent food waste going to the landfill.

Quick Facts about Food Waste

How does this service work?

Residences and businesses can sign up for compost material collection. Please refer to the service levels described to the left.

AHRC provides 5-gallon and 35-gallon containers to collect food waste for residential and commercial customers, where we collect the material from your location each week.

We also offer a drop-off location at AHRC's compost facility at 5991 Industrial Drive.

Service Levels

Individual Household or Business

Residential Weekly Pickup, $25.40 per month, The Plains, Nelsonville, Chauncey, Athens Township
Business Weekly Pickup, $27.68 per month, The Plains, Nelsonville, Chauncey, Athens Township
Residential Weekly Pickup, $9.84 per month, inside the City of Athens
See signup sheet below more options and pricing

Drop-Off at 5991 Industrial Drive, Athens Ohio

Individuals can drop off for free if they already have an AHRC Organics green bucket
Businesses and other organizations must contact us to learn more about pricing for bulk drop offs of compostable materials

BPI Certified Compostables Database

We take BPI-certified compostable materials at our facility. Utilize the database below to see if your cup, plate, bowl, or other service ware is BPI certified!

Last Name: *

AHRC's Compost Facility

Business Name

Backyard Composting - Links

First Name *

Choose *

Residential Weekly Pickup, $9.84 per month in City of Athens

Residential Weekly Pickup, $25.40 per month outside City of Athens

Business Weekly Pickup, $27.68

Exchange at the Athens-Hocking Organics Facility, $7.00 per month

Team Member Weekly Pickup, $12.50 per month (only available outside the City of Athens)

Team Leader, free with Team Leader duties (only available outside the City of Athens)

Address, City, Zip

Screening one of the final products. #AHRC #AHRCorganics #compost #zeroeaste #foodwaste

A video posted by Athens-Hocking Recycling (@ahrecycling) on Sep 3, 2015 at 6:07am PDT

Athens-Hocking Recycling Centers, Inc.

Service Collection Area Include

City of Athens, Chauncey, The Plains, Nelsonville, and surrounding areas.

Email: *

Comments/Questions:

Billing Preference *

Postal Service

Bulk Compost For Sale

Phone Number *

What does the food waste turn into?

Food Waste is mixed, collected, and brought to AHRC's compost facility at 5991 Industrial Drive, Athens, Ohio. It is mixed with other woody (wood chips) and non-woody (leaves, grass clippings) organic matter until a certain volume is reached. Once the desired volume (40-60 cubic yards) is reached, the mix is put in a bin for the first stage of the process (see bins in the background of the picture at the top of this page). After one month, it is turned by placing it in the next bin. This turning introduces more oxygen and assures proper mixing of the material. After another month in the second bin, the materials are ready to be removed from the bin and are ready for screening (see Instagram video). Both bins have a blower system which also helps aerate the materials. Once the organic material is screened to remove larger size pieces, it can be sold as a soil amendment or combined with other materials to create different soil mixtures for various purposes.