Frequently Asked Questions
(And more you didn’t even know you had.)
What communities do you serve?
Curbside Pick-Up
West Side: Lakewood, Rocky River, Detroit Shoreway, Gordon Square, Ohio City, Tremont, Downtown Cleveland, Old Brooklyn, Clark-Fulton
East Side: Cleveland, Bratenahl, Asia-Town, St. Clair-Superior, East Cleveland, Hough, Cleveland Heights, University Heights, Shaker Heights, Larchmere, University Circle, Beachwood, South Euclid.
Neighborhood Drop-Off
All of the above and everywhere else!
How does curbside pick-up work?
After signing up, we bring you our 5-gallon bucket on the next service day we are in your community. You fill it up with the food scraps your household creates throughout the week, and then place the bucket back outside for us on your service day. We come pick it up and leave you a freshly washed and sanitized bucket for the new week ahead!
*All haulers follow COVID-safe, contactless protocols.*
How does neighborhood drop-off work?
You collect your food scraps in any personal container of your choosing, and whenever it’s full or you feel like it’s time to dump them, you simply bring them to one of our drop-off locations, deposit them in a bin using the access code you’ll receive when you sign up.
We recommend using a 5-gallon bucket to store your food scraps and dropping off 1x per week. You can line your bucket with a paper bag or a BPI Certified compostable bag. OR You can put your food scraps directly into the bin itself! No bag Required.
PLEASE DO NOT PUT PLASTIC BAGS IN THE DROP OFF BIN. If you you, we have to pick them out by hand.
What materials ARE accepted?
From raw vegetables, to cooked foods, cirtus to coffee grounds, bones, meat, dairy, raw vegetables, to cooked fruits we can accept ALL food scraps andBPI-Certified compostable products.
Search our database! You will need to create an account to access the Rust Belt Riders link. For this you will need an email and simple password.
Look up ANY item and find out if it is compostable or not. If you do not see the item, you can request it be added to the list by emailing support@rustbeltriders.com with your item in question.
What materials are NOT accepted?
Human waste: including diapers, used tissues, dyed cardboard, pizza boxes, pet food, q-tips, rubber bands and twist-ties, staples (some tea bags use them!), plastic wrap, junk mail, pet waste, and any non-BPI certified compostable products (if it doesn’t have ‘BPI certified’ on it- it’s not!). Any others, find out HERE.
How much does pick-up cost?
All plans include free trial month.
Pay monthly: $55/month
Pay semi-annually: $50/month ($300 every 6 months)
Pay annually: $45/month ($540 every 12 months)
How much does drop-off cost?
$12/ Month or $144 Yearly
How do I sign up?
Why do I have to pay for this?
Our service is an opt in service to provide folks with an alternative to landfills for their food waste.
Food waste is the single largest component of our landfills and in the absence of municipalities providing this service we step in. Our work combats climate change, supports dignified jobs, and creates nutrient dense tilth.soil for our community.
We are a business that is dedicated to slowing global warming by sequestering carbon back into the earth by means of healthy soils made from your food scraps. As such, we have real costs associated with our service and make sure we are able to pay our staff living wages including health care. This is what you help support when you subscribe to our services.
I want a neighborhood drop off site in my community!
Start by filling out our Neighborhood Drop-Off Sit Request Form! After that we will be in touch!
Is there a student discount?
Contact us.
support@rustbeltriders.com
What if I have more than I can fit in my 5-gallon bucket?
For pick-up members, a second bucket can be added onto your account for $5 a month extra.
Is there a limit to how much I can drop-off?
Nope. You can drop off as much or as little as you like— whatever works best for you!
Can I use any drop-off location?
Yep! While we prefer that you try sticking to your home drop-off location to ensure we provide the proper amount of bins to each location, all drop-off sites are available to you once you sign up.
What do I get?
All members get the satisfaction of knowing that their food scraps are being made into soil rather than rotting in the landfill and emitting methane! You also get a discount when buying Tilth, as well as access to workshops and newsletters chock full of fun facts, how-to’s, and other cool information!
Why do we need to compost?
When your food goes to the landfill, it rots. It doesn’t get any oxygen, so then it creates and emits methane— a powerful and toxic greenhouse gas responsible for warming our planet.
When food goes down the garbage disposal, it loses its potential to sequester carbon. Plus, then the sewer and water district have to deal with it, and basically turn it into waste.
Healthy soil is a key ingredient to healthy communities, and we can’t have healthy soil without- you guessed it- compost! Your food scraps become compost, which goes on to provide nutrients and structure for growing food, flowers, and flora, as well as aiding communities via water retention, pollution mitigation, increasing biodiversity, and beautifying the places we live in and love.
Do you accept yard waste?
Not yet! But we might one day. Check back to stay posted.
Can I compost my pet waste?
Not with us! But thanks for asking. (We don’t know anyone in Cleveland who offers this service.)
Do you service businesses and offices?
You betchya!! That’s how we started. Check out our Commercial Services page.
How do I change my password?
Log into your account profile and update it there!
Please Note: There are separate portals for pick-up and drop-off members.
How do I buy soil?
Do that at theTilth Soil Website! If you’re not one for online shopping, you can also use theirstore locator toolto find a nearby retail place to buy from in person— maybe you’ll opt to visit us at the Rust Belt Riders & Tilth Soil headquarters! :)
