Out of Decay Grows a New Day

The short answer: composting is a shared responsibility.

Unfortunately, traditional waste management still prioritizes the same driver behind many of our societal decisions — convenience. But convenience often comes at the cost of sustainability, community resilience, and long-term care. Composting isn’t new. It’s been practiced for generations and is already embraced by many individuals and organizations across Hampton Roads doing incredible work. What’s emerging now is a growing community of people who care — about each other, about our neighborhoods, and about the environment we all share. The truth is: no single person or company has the full answer. But together, through small choices, consistent and collective action, we create an ecosystem of renewal. Composting is one piece of that larger system — and when we each do our part, the impact grows exponentially.

The average U.S. household throws away nearly 300 pounds of food waste per year — most of it ending up in landfills where it creates methane, a greenhouse gas over 25x more potent than CO₂. By composting, that same household could reduce its landfill contribution by up to 30%, cut methane emissions, and help create nutrient-rich soil that supports local farms and gardens — instead of relying on synthetic fertilizers.

On a community level, widespread composting can cut municipal waste disposal costs, reduce flooding by improving soil absorption, and keep valuable organic matter circulating locally.

We currently accept a variety of compostable food scraps and uncoated cardboard and paper products. For food waste, you may include fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, meat, bones, dairy, bread, rice, and grains. For cardboard and paper collection, we accept uncoated cardboard (such as shipping boxes), brown paper towel or toilet paper rolls, and non-glossy, uncoated paper towels and napkins.

To maintain compost quality and prevent contamination, all materials must be free of plastic, synthetic liners, and excessive coatings. If you're ever unsure about a specific item, just reach out — we're happy to help guide you.

No plastic bags, wrappers, waxed or coated paper, aluminum, or packaging labeled “eco-friendly” — unless Scrapz has explicitly confirmed it's accepted. While our long-term vision includes expanding into more complex waste streams, we’re committed to maintaining a clean and sustainable cycle. Once we can ensure proper processing and regeneration of these materials, we’ll broaden our offerings. In the meantime, we ask that you follow your city’s disposal guidelines for these items to keep contamination low and compost quality high.

 Once you subscribe, you’ll receive a clearly labeled Scrapz bin with compostable liners, designed to keep odors contained and handling clean. On your scheduled pickup day, simply place your bin in the designated location — typically curbside or near your regular waste bins. We’ll collect the full bin and replace it with a clean, freshly lined one — no need to rinse or clean it yourself. For cardboard pickup, we ask that you flatten your boxes before placing them out for collection. While we’ll remove adhesives as needed during processing, we kindly ask that you remove any return labels or shipping stickers containing personal information. Scrapz is not responsible for data left on packaging, and this simple step helps protect your privacy while supporting a smooth collection process. If your pickup schedule changes due to weather or holidays, you’ll receive direct communication from our team with updated instructions.

Yes! We offer flexible service options for multifamily dwellings. If your building doesn't already participate, reach out - we'd love to help set it up!

Your materials are transported to a licensed composting facility or processed by Scrapz for reuse. Food scraps are processed into a nutrient-rich compost, and cardboard is shredded into carbon-rich bedding, packaging, or gaden-ready materials like Shredz.

Not by default, but our cardboard subscriptions are eligible for Shredz with every collection. If you are interested in composting at home, we offer services to help get you set up, started, and support your journey along the way. We also offer compost for sale in limited seasonal batches, available at markets or by request.

Yes! We understand that life happens and want to keep things easy and flexible for you. Please give us 48 hours in advance, and we'll adjust for your scheduled pickup. If you need any more information around our policy, please review our composting service agreement.

Contact us right away. We'll replace your bin and work with you to prevent future issues. Scrapz bins are durable, but things happen! We've got you covered. If you need an additional bin for weekly pickups, we do offer a one time charge for the materials, but this does not impact your monthly subscription fee.