Council committee hears plan to expand Boston composting amid capacity and land constraints

Boston City Council’s Committee on City Services and Innovation Technology on Nov. 20 heard updates on the city’s curbside and drop‑off composting programs and options to expand access as enrollment pressures and processing limits mount.

Councilor Sharon Durkin, the docket sponsor, opened the hearing by calling Project Oscar and curbside composting “incredibly popular with residents,” and said demand has outpaced capacity as the city paused further expansion because of cost and limited processing infrastructure. “We should be thinking ahead, exploring how we invest in composting and build long‑term infrastructure needed to eventually support composting citywide,” Durkin said.

Why it matters: City officials said the curbside program now serves roughly 27,547 households and 638 people remain on a wait list, but growth is constrained by operating budgets and nearby processing facilities. Without more capacity or funding, the city cannot immediately add all residents who want service, staff said.

Dennis Roche, superintendent of waste reduction for Boston Public Works, told the committee curbside collection is contracted to a…