LOWER MERION — Some residents in Lower Merion’s Bala Cynwyd neighborhood could soon have their food waste collected for composting under a pilot program the township just approved.
Lower Merion Commissioners approved a contract for a curbside compost pilot program. The pilot program will allow residents on one trash route the opportunity to have their organic food waste collected for composting.
Under the contract, the pilot program will cost the township $26,700.
Adam Szumski, chief financial officer for Lower Merion, outlined the program.
“This is a pilot program to provide weekly composting pickup in a section of Bala Cynwyd,” Szumski said. “This would be picked up the same day as refuse and were crafted in a way to help procure some data. It’s one specific route on our refuse operations to procure data on the impact of this, and potentially there is an opportunity to expand the pilot or keep it for an additional year.”
Paloma Vila, Lower Merion’s sustainability manager, said the township is launching the pilot program to gather information and data that will help determine whether a larger-scale program or a long-term program for organic waste is feasible for the township.
The information gathered would include issues such as the opt-in rates and the amount collected.
Commissioner Scott Zelov asked about animals or the odors from the waste.
“There is certainly always a concern,” Vila said. “It’s really not too different from the trash that you put out because it’ll be picked up once a week. It will very closely mimic refuse collection. So it’s going to be pretty comparable to what you put out in your trash. Because it’s being picked up once a week, that minimizes a lot of the concerns. A lot of the retail services are every other week. So this more frequent pickup and will help reduce some of those concerns.”
Under the pilot program, it will be offered to households along a single trash collection route in Bala Cynwyd. The route is located southeast of the Bala Cynwyd Library and contains about 250 households. The food waste pickup would occur on the same day as refuse pickup, which, township officials say, would simplify data collection, limit truck activity in the neighborhood, reduce concerns over pests and aesthetics, and increase ease of participation.
Commissioner Gilda Kramer was among the commissioners expressing support for the program.
“I think it’s an excellent project and I hope it’s one that we can expand in the future to other neighborhoods,” Kramer said.
Board President Todd Sinai said his house already subscribes to the same company the township will be using, Mother Compost, to pick up food waste at his home. Therefore, he supports the program.
“I just want to say that I’m really looking forward to a successful pilot, and hopefully, from my perspective, we can roll it out to more places in the township,” Sinai said.
According to township officials, Lower Merion initiated a pilot community compost drop-off program in 2025. Under that program, enrolled participants could bring their food waste to designated outdoor collection receptacles at select township facilities.
“The receptacles are serviced weekly by a local third-party service provider that is permitted by the Commonwealth and possesses access to a state-licensed food waste composting facility in nearby Delaware County. The program started at two locations, but was expanded in 2025 due to demand and is currently operating at five Township facilities, providing a residential food waste composting option for up to a total of 200 households,” according to an issue briefing to the commissioners.
Originally Published: September 29, 2025 at 3:22 AM EDT