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FoodCycle

FoodCycle

The City of Tucson's Environmental Services has partnered with Tucson’s local gardens and parks to bring you the FoodCycle at Home program! You’ll get a kitchen pail for collecting your food scraps, and when it’s full, just drop it off at a convenient FoodCycle site near you.

Attend the next composting training in your area!

The City of Tucson and Compost Cats partner to regularly host how-to events on composting and joining the FoodCycle program in Tucson. Check out our event list to register for the next event!

Find your Nearest Drop-off Location

FoodCycle Events

  • Wed, Oct 14
    Ward 2 Office
    Oct 14, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
    Ward 2 Office, 7820 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85710, USA
    Participate in the Foodcycle at Home Program by attending training and dropping food scraps at a Foodcycle site near you. Food scraps will be processed into compost and made available to participants.
    Share
  • Mon, Oct 19
    Miller-Golf Links Library
    Oct 19, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
    Miller-Golf Links Library, 9640 E Golf Links Rd, Tucson, AZ 85730, USA
    Participate in the Foodcycle at Home Program by attending training and dropping food scraps at a Foodcycle site near you. Food scraps will be processed into compost and made available to participants.
    Share
  • Wed, Oct 21
    Southwest Family Resource Center
    Oct 21, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
    Southwest Family Resource Center, 6855 S Mark Rd, Tucson, AZ 85757, USA
    This training is for Tucson Unified School Disitrct Families and their guests. Participate in the Foodcycle at Home Program by attending training and dropping food scraps at a Foodcycle site near you. Food scraps will be processed into compost and made available to participants.
    Share
  • Sat, Oct 24
    Mission Garden
    Oct 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
    Mission Garden, 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson, AZ 85745, USA
    Participate in the Foodcycle at Home Program by attending training and dropping food scraps at a Foodcycle site near you. Food scraps will be processed into compost and made available to participants.
    Share
  • Sat, Oct 31
    Fred Archer Recreation Center
    Oct 31, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
    Fred Archer Recreation Center, 1665 S La Cholla Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85713, USA
    Participate in the Foodcycle at Home Program by attending training and dropping food scraps at a Foodcycle site near you. Food scraps will be processed into compost and made available to participants.
    Share
  • Mon, Nov 09
    Tucson Village Farm
    Nov 09, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
    Tucson Village Farm, 2201 E Roger Rd, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
    Participate in the Foodcycle at Home Program by attending training and dropping food scraps at a Foodcycle site near you. Food scraps will be processed into compost and made available to participants.
    Share

Did you Know?

Composting...

​

·      Prevents soil erosion

·      Conserves water

·      Supplies the soil with nutrients

·      Creates green jobs

·      Decreases landfill methane emissions

·      Reduces the need for fertilizers & pesticides

Tucson FoodCycle composting bin
Vegetable Garden

28%

of landfill waste is compostable

25%

of residential waste is food scraps

50%

of landfill greenhouse gases can be reduced by composting

Accepted Items

Fruit

Fruit

Fruit

Citrus, melon rinds, cores, and seeds are acceptable

vegetables

Vegetables

Vegetables

Onions and cooked veggies are acceptable

Various dairy products

Dairy Products

Dairy Products

Viscous and solid dairy products are acceptable, but liquids like milk are not

peach

Pitted Fruits

Pitted Fruits

Pits are acceptable: like mangoes, avocados, plums, and peaches

egg shells

Eggshells

coffee grounds

Coffee Grounds

nuts and shells

Nuts & Shells

Pasta

Grains & Pasta

Bread

Bread

Cake

Baked Goods

Non-accepted Items

produce stickers

Produce Stickers

vegetable-oil

Grease & Oils

butter

Butter & Margarine

plastics

Plastics

Plastic Utensils

Compostable Containers & Utensils

liquids

Liquids

red meat

Meat

tea bag

Tea Bags

Yard and House Plant Waste

House Plants/Yard Waste

Paper Towel Napkin

Napkins & Paper Towels

paper plate

Paper Plates

plant vegatation

Plant Vegetation

meat bones

Meat Bones

shellfish

Shellfish

bleaxched coffee filters

Bleached (White)
Coffee Filters

compostable plastic bag

Compostable Plastic Bags

shredded paper

Shredded Paper

steel wool

Metals

Garden Soil

Here’s How to Get Involved

The Environmental Services Department has teamed up with Community Gardens of Tucson and local parks to launch the FoodCycle at Home program! After completing a brief training session, you'll receive a kitchen pail for collecting food scraps. Once it's full, simply drop it off at a nearby FoodCycle location.

​

If you have questions about the program or acceptable/unacceptable items, please contact us at foodcycle@tucsonaz.gov.

STEP 1

Sign up for a 30-minute information session to learn the basics.

STEP 2

Complete the training and receive a free home kitchen compost pail to collect food scraps.

STEP 3

Receive the code to access the container lock at drop off sites.

STEP 4

Drop off food scraps in container at a City collection site.

Find your Nearest Drop-off Location

  • ​El Rio Center  -  1277 N. Riverview Boulevard

  • Freedom Park  -  5000 E 29th Street

  • Highland Vista Garden -   5300 E 7th Street

  • Iron Horse Garden  -  560 E 10th Street

  • McCormick Park  -  2950 N Columbus Boulevard

  • Mission Garden -   946 W Mission Lane

  • New Spirit Garden -  8701 E Old Spanish Trail

  • Palo Verde Park -  259 S Langley Avenue

  • Pio Decimo Garden  - 835 S 7th Avenue

  • Purple Heart Dog Park -  9820 Rees Loop

  • Randolph Way -  850 S Randolph Way

  • Tucson Village Farms Big Farm -  2201 E Roger Road

  • University of Arizona Community Garden -  1400 E Mabel Street

  • Udall Park  -  7290 E Tanque Verde Road

  • Tucson City Council Office Ward 1  -  940 W Alameda Street

  • Tucson City Council Office Ward 4  -   8155 E Poinciana Drive

  • Tucson City Council Office Ward 5 -   4300 S Park Avenue

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