An innovative step towards enhancing the community's composting efforts is underway in Ridgewood, as a new food recycling bin will soon be available at the Social Service Association building. This addition aims to provide residents with more convenient access to drop off their food waste around the clock. According to Sean Hamlin, Supervisor of the Department of Public Works, this move addresses one of the primary challenges faced by the program: limited operational hours at the current village Recycling Center. Previously, participants could only bring their scraps during specific weekdays, which did not accommodate everyone's schedules.

Plans are already in motion to further expand the initiative’s reach across Ridgewood. By year's end, the village anticipates installing three additional bins at various locations, fostering partnerships with local public schools and restaurants. Launched in March 2021 as North Jersey's pioneering effort, the program initially involved 80 households but has since grown significantly. Now encompassing nearly 372 participating households, the project continues to thrive despite some hurdles such as grant availability and stringent state regulations that hinder in-house processing capabilities. Consequently, food waste is currently transported to Trenton Renewables for treatment.

Ridgewood's commitment to environmental sustainability shines through its achievements, having successfully diverted 88 tons of food waste since 2021. This translates into removing approximately 26 metric tons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, contributing positively to air quality. With aspirations of establishing an in-house processing facility next year, the village hopes to attract even more participants. Through educational programs promoting efficient shopping and cooking practices, along with technological solutions like QR code scanning for secure bin access, Ridgewood demonstrates how proactive measures can inspire communities toward greener lifestyles while reducing waste.