Chattanooga Curbside Compost Trial
What is the Curbside Compost Trial?
This 10-month composting trial is only available to residents whose homes fall within Chattanooga's Waste Collection Routes listed as Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3.
The trial is designed to measure how much food waste we can keep out of landfills when composting is offered as part of regular city services. To collect accurate data, only homes located within the mapped route area are eligible to participate.
Being part of a neighborhood or nearby community does not guarantee eligibility. Please check the map to confirm that your address is within the trial boundaries.
This service is funded by the City of Chattanooga and operated by NewTerra Compost, your local compost company. It is also supported through a grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).
We are accepting up to 750 households within the two routes.
The trial begins October 15th, 2025, and ends July 31st, 2026.
Who Can Join?
Only residents who live within the boundaries of Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3 are eligible to participate.
📍 Use the interactive map below to check your address and confirm your home is inside the eligible area.
How It Works
Once you are accepted into the program:
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You will receive a NewTerra compost bucket delivered to your home the week the trial begins.
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Your bucket will be:
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Emptied, weighed, and cleaned each week
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Relined with a new certified compostable liner
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Pickup days may vary by address due to routing — your pickup day may be different from your neighbor’s.
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Place your bucket curbside by 8:00 AM on your scheduled collection day in the location it was delivered.
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Buckets cannot be collected from porches or steps for safety reasons.
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What Can I Compost?
If you can eat it, we can compost it!
You can include:
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All food scraps (meat, dairy, bones, fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds, etc.)
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BPI, CMA, or TUV certified compostable products (must be labeled)
🛑 Do not include plastic, trash, liquids, glass, or metal.
Any contamination may be left behind for you to dispose of.
Click below to view our full Do’s and Don’ts list:
Stay Informed
Once enrolled, you will receive:
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Email or text reminders before your pickup day
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Occasional email surveys to help improve the program
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Access to your personal account where you can:
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View your pickup schedule
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Send messages or report issues
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Order liners or other compostable items (optional)
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Ready to Join?
📝 Pre-registration is now open!
Click below to sign up and reserve your spot in the Curbside Composting Trial.
✅ [Click Here to Pre-Register]
Please make sure to check the map above before registering. If your address is outside the eligible area, you will not be able to participate in this trial. If you would still like to Participate in a compost trial you can Click Here to Participate
Live outside the curbside area? You may still be eligible for the Kiosk Composting Trial instead.
✅ [Click here to sign up for the Kiosk Trial]