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Community spotlightCommunity composting

Erie County × WeRadiate

Plate to Field

Your community. Your climate action.

Erie County and WeRadiate connect residents, volunteers, and organizations with local food-scrap composting.

Erie County, New York
Find your local drop-offWays to take part
Fallen yellow and brown apples mixed with leaves and other plant material.
Apples and leaves pictured on the Plate to Field website. Image via Plate to Field / Erie County × WeRadiate
Participating municipalities
5[1]
Food scraps collected
23,315 lb[2]
Volunteers & Compost Ambassadors
16[2]

Program-reported figures, checked November 5, 2026.

The work behind the spotlight

A closer look.

Participating communities

  • East Aurora
  • Aurora
  • Alden
  • Lancaster
  • Grand Island
Visit the program website

Keeping food scraps out of the trash starts with a place to take them. Through Plate to Field, Erie County and WeRadiate are helping five municipalities establish or expand residential food-scrap collection programs. The initiative brings together local collection, education, and community participation.[1]

Composting uses microorganisms and oxygen to turn organic materials into a stable soil amendment. Using finished compost returns organic matter and nutrients to soil. Diverting food scraps from landfills also reduces a source of landfill methane.[3]

Grand Island residents can use the town’s Food Scrap Collection Pilot Program page for registration and current drop-off details. The town describes its pilot as free and open to Grand Island residents.[4]

Ready to contribute? Register your interest in becoming a Compost Ambassador or tell the program team how your organization would like to help.

Find your place in the program

A few ways to make a difference.

Choose the next step that fits you.

For residents

Give your food scraps a local destination.

Find your community’s program, then check eligibility, registration, drop-off hours, and accepted materials before your first visit.

Find your local program

For volunteers

Help your neighbors get started.

Compost Ambassadors share information, connect with local stakeholders, and encourage participation. Training is part of the opportunity.

Register your interest

For organizations

Bring your community into the conversation.

Schools, libraries, local groups, and municipal teams can explore ways to support outreach and local organics programs with the organizers.

Connect with the team
Program information & sources
  1. Erie County: Food Waste Management — Plate to Field project and Compost Ambassadors. Reviewed November 5, 2026.
  2. Plate to Field: program homepage. Participating communities and program-reported collection total, accessed November 5, 2026. The impact section does not state a reporting period.
  3. US Environmental Protection Agency: Composting. Composting process, soil amendment, and landfill methane.
  4. Town of Grand Island: Food Scrap Collection Pilot Program. Eligibility, registration, and local arrangements.
  5. Plate to Field: Composting Resources. Outreach posters and volunteer materials.
  6. Plate to Field: Get Involved. Team contacts and interest form.
Community conversation

Discussion

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