Private food waste collection starts in Gainesville

O-Town Compost, of Orlando, said it has launched a food waste collection service in Gainesville, Florida. As a food waste collector registered with the city of Gainesville, O-Town will offer commercial establishments and multi-family properties the service needed for them to comply with the city’s food waste ordinances passed in July 2022, the company said.

“Diverting food waste for composting instead of disposal in the landfill is a significant part of the city of Gainesville’s zero waste initiative,” said Richard Devereaux, O-Town’s general manager for Gainesville. “Our mission is to reduce the amount of food waste going to the landfill and make nutrient-rich compost to support this community and its local food systems.”

O-Town said it expects to begin distribution of its collection bins to its commercial establishment and multi-family property partners beginning in October, with regular collection routes scheduled to commence immediately thereafter. The food waste that O-Town collects will be transported to Gaston Mulch & Soil’s Gainesville composting site for processing into a soil amendment.

O-Town was founded in 2020 by Charlie Pioli, in Orlando. Since then, the company has diverted nearly 2,500 tons of food waste from the landfill, serving 1,000 businesses and residents, the company said. Gaston Mulch & Soil and O-Town currently collaborate in Orange County, Florida to compost 150 tons of food waste per month from the Orlando area.