Monroe County Launches Upper Keys Food Waste Collection Pilot

Monroe County began a pilot Food Waste Collection Program for Upper Keys residents on November 17, offering free drop off of food scraps at three designated locations and launching a public outreach campaign and ribbon cutting to promote participation. The program was described in a county announcement carried by the Key West Chamber community news feed following the county board actions of November 13 and 14, and it is a three month pilot supported by a partnership with SoilMate Composting and sponsorship from Baptist Health South Florida.

The county intends the pilot to encourage diversion of organic material from landfills and to support local composting capacity. Residents in the Upper Keys can bring food scraps free of charge to the three drop off locations, which are intended to provide convenient access and to generate data on participation and volumes. County officials have scheduled outreach activities around the ribbon cutting to educate residents on accepted materials and to promote consistent use of the sites.

Institutionally the pilot reflects a public private approach to waste management in Monroe County. SoilMate Composting will be the operational partner for handling collected organics while Baptist Health South Florida is providing sponsorship support. The announcement appeared as part of a summary of county board work from mid November, and related items were recognized at recent commission meetings, signaling continuing attention from county leadership on waste diversion strategies.

For residents the pilot has several practical implications. The program offers a no cost option to reduce household organic waste going to traditional disposal, and it provides a local outlet for residents who want to compost but lack space or facilities. The outreach campaign seeks to build public awareness and habitual participation during the three month period, which will be critical data for assessing whether the county can expand services or adopt longer term policies.

From a policy perspective the pilot serves as a live test of feasibility, logistics, and public uptake ahead of potential broader adoption. Data collected during the pilot will inform county decisions about scaling drop off capacity, integrating with municipal waste services, and whether public funding or additional partnerships are needed. The initiative also highlights the role of community engagement in solid waste policy, as participation rates and resident feedback will shape how commissioners weigh future options.

Monroe County residents in the Upper Keys seeking to participate should watch county communications for schedules, site details, and outreach events connected to the ribbon cutting and ongoing pilot activities. The outcome of this pilot will help determine next steps for organic waste management in the county.