Did you know food is the single most common material sent to US landfills? That’s a lot of banana peels, coffee grounds, leftovers + other scraps taking up space that could be put to better use.

In honor of Food Waste Prevention Week, here’s how Knoxville is working to keep more food scraps out of the landfill — and how you can help.

Where it all started

The Knoxville Compost Project launched in 2022 with one food scrap drop-off site in the Old City. By 2023, the program had:

Added four more food scrap drop-off sites
Partnered with community farms
Offered free backyard composting workshops to 250 households
Supported composting at seven community gardens

Now, the project is looking to expand further with additional drop-off sites, backyard composting workshops, and other ways for Knoxvillians to turn food scraps into something useful.

Want to get involved?

Know your scraps. Fruits, vegetables + eggshells are compostable, while cooked food, meat, seafood, and bread aren't accepted.
Find a drop-off site. Locate the food scrap collection spot closest to you.
Donate surplus food. Check Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee’s most-needed items.
Make it a habit. The city recommends simple tricks like keeping scraps in a lidded container and setting a weekly phone reminder.