DELMAR, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A new food composting drop spot is now open to local residents at the St. Thomas the Apostle Church. The scraps will be kept in a locked shed and brought to the Town of Bethlehem’s compost facility by local hauler FoodScraps360.

According to Dan Lilkas-Rain, the head of the Bethlehem Recycling & Composting Department, residents have three options for composting food scraps. Residents can set up their backyard compost or utilize drop spots or curbside service by subscription through FoodScraps360.

“Food scraps can make up more than 30% of the waste stream,” said Lilkas-Rain. “Composting your food scraps allows them to help grow healthy soil, plants, and planet instead of landfilling, where they produce methane—a powerful greenhouse gas which significantly contributes to climate change.”

Residents must sign up and get trained to use the new drop spot. The other drop-off location is at the Town’s Compost Facility at 1244 Feura Bush Road in Selkirk, which is open for sign-ups.