# Torus ## Summary Composting in New Jersey made easy. Torus offers free curbside pickups to cut food waste and carbon emissions at home. Join our youth-led zero-waste community. Torus is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in New Jersey. Its service helps households and businesses divert food scraps from landfills through free curbside compost pickup, with a refundable bucket deposit. ## Organization Facts - Name: Torus - Type: 501(c)(3) nonprofit - Focus: Free curbside composting, food waste reduction, community composting, New Jersey sustainability - Email: torusfoodwaste@gmail.com - Service state: New Jersey - Main website: https://www.torusai.org - Social profiles: https://www.instagram.com/torusfoodwaste, https://www.linkedin.com/company/torusfoodwaste, https://app.candid.org/profile/15511354/torus-99-2368170/ ## Current Impact Figures current as of August 2026: - 1,000+ households and local businesses served - 300,000+ pounds of food waste diverted - 1,140,000+ pounds of CO2e emissions reduced - 20+ cities served across New Jersey ## How Torus Works 1. Sign up at https://www.torusai.org/signup. 2. Torus confirms the address and delivers a 5-gallon bucket with compostable bag liners, normally within a week. 3. Fill the bucket with accepted food scraps. 4. Follow the reminder email and place the bucket outside by the specified pickup time. 5. Torus collects the material and delivers it to Trenton Renewables, where anaerobic digestion turns it into biogas. The curbside pickup service is free. The separate $10 bucket deposit is refundable and is not a service fee. ## Accepted Materials Accepted: - Alcoholic beverages and residuals - Beans, stalks and residuals from preparation - Breads - Cake and pastry, packaged and open - Coffee and coffee products - Cooking oils - Corn syrup - Dairy products - Eggs - Fats and cooking grease - Fish and seafood processing residuals - Flours, sugars, starches - Food wrapping paper - Fruits and fruit residuals - Herbs and residuals from herb processing - Horse bedding - Institutional food residuals - Jello - Juices and residuals - Liquid residuals from drink products - Liquid residuals from food products - Manure - Meats - Napkins - Nuts, packaged and opened - Organic fraction of household waste - Packaged dinners - Packaged drink mixes - Paper towels - Pet food - Poultry and residuals from poultry processing - Pre-consumer food waste - Residuals from baking goods processing - Residuals from beverage processing - Residuals from food preparation - Residuals from food processing - Restaurant food scrapings - Sauces for foods - School and public facility food scraps - Sodas and soda residuals - Transfer station separated organics - Trimmings - Vegetable oil - Vegetables and vegetable residuals - Vegetative farm residuals - Vegetative waste, grass and yard trimmings - Waxed cardboard - Yogurts Partially accepted or requiring confirmation: - Dinnerware, forks, knives, spoons - Foil - Glass, or glass containers - Linens - Metal containers - Plastic wrappings or bags Not accepted: - Animal bones - Batteries - Bricks - Ceramic - Chemicals - Cleaners - Concrete - Construction material debris - Hazardous material or substances - Lumber, metal plates, or bars - Paint - Process residuals - Solvents, VOCs, tar, oil, oil products (cooking oil is allowed) - Wood products ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Torus? We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free composting services in New Jersey, with plans to expand to the rest of the United States in the future. ### What services does Torus offer? When you sign up, we deliver a 5-gallon Torus bucket and compostable bag liners to your doorstep within a week. ### Which areas does Torus currently serve? Torus offers free compost pickup in select areas of Central New Jersey. Check our website for the full list of locations we serve, or compare home, drop-off, and pickup options in our New Jersey composting guide. We're continuously working to expand our service area. ### How can I volunteer with Torus? Torus is entirely student-led and volunteer-powered. If you'd like to help with deliveries, events, and community outreach, we'd love to have you. Visit our volunteer page or email torusfoodwaste@gmail.com to get started. ### What can be placed in the bucket? Please refer to our Acceptable Food Waste page for a detailed list of items that can be composted. ### Want more bags? You can buy the compostable bags we recommend on Amazon. ### How can I refer others to Torus? Help us grow by referring friends, family, or community members. Share our signup form or website link and encourage them to join our mission. ### How is the service free? We are funded primarily through tax-deductible donations and grants, which allow us to offer free compost pickups. There is a $10 refundable bucket deposit to show your commitment. If you know of any available grants or would like to support us further, please contact us at torusfoodwaste@gmail.com. ### Why are donations important to Torus? Donations are vital to maintaining our free service. While others charge up to $20 per pickup, your contributions keep our service accessible to everyone. ### Have a grant opportunity? Torus is actively seeking grants of any size. Please reach out to torusfoodwaste@gmail.com, and you can expect a reply as soon as we can. ### Where is the compost taken? The collected food waste is delivered to a state-of-the-art facility, Trenton Renewables, where it is turned into biogas. This process allows us to accept more types of food waste than many other composting services. ### Can I drop off food waste myself? Currently, individual drop-offs are not allowed at the Trenton Renewables facility. We consolidate food waste from households and businesses to enable efficient processing. ### How do I request an extra bucket? If you need an extra bucket, contact us and we'll arrange delivery as soon as possible. ### How do I ensure my compost is picked up on time? We send a reminder email before each scheduled pickup. Please confirm that your bucket is placed outside by the specified time to minimize missed pickups. ### What if I go on vacation or can't leave my bucket out? If you're unable to leave your bucket out on the scheduled pickup day, please let us know. We can pause service for you. Just email us, and we'll ensure your compost pickup is resumed when you return. ### How can my community join Torus? If twenty or more households in your community express interest outside our current service area, we'll provide each with a bucket and compostable bags. Bi-weekly pickups will be arranged, and the service will remain free. A $10 refundable bucket deposit applies. Buckets will be delivered once ten households are reached within a 2-mile radius. ### I still have another question. Ask Torus for a quick answer, or use the Torus contact page if you would like to reach the team. ## Important URLs - Free Curbside Composting in New Jersey: https://www.torusai.org Composting in New Jersey made easy. Torus offers free curbside pickups to cut food waste and carbon emissions at home. Join our youth-led zero-waste community. - About Torus: https://www.torusai.org/about Learn about Torus, a student-founded nonprofit providing free composting in New Jersey. - Sign Up for Free Compost Pickup: https://www.torusai.org/signup Join Torus for free curbside composting pickup service in New Jersey. - Torus Community Newsletter | Composting in New Jersey: https://www.torusai.org/community Join the Torus Community newsletter for practical composting tips, food waste ideas, nonprofit updates, community events, and ways to take part. - Ask Torus: https://www.torusai.org/ask-torus Chat with Ask Torus about compost pickup, food waste, service areas, and public Torus resources. - Our Supporters: https://www.torusai.org/our-supporters Meet the supporters and partners helping Torus expand free composting service. - Donate to Torus | Keep NJ Composting Free: https://www.torusai.org/donate Donate to Torus, a New Jersey 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your tax-deductible one-time or monthly gift funds free curbside compost pickups and food waste reduction. - Cities Torus Serves: https://www.torusai.org/cities Explore New Jersey cities where Torus offers curbside composting service. - Composting Guides, News & Updates: https://www.torusai.org/blog Composting and food waste guides for New Jersey, plus Torus news, program updates, and milestones from our team. - Anthony Woo: https://www.torusai.org/anthony-woo Read about Anthony Woo, Torus co-founder and CFO. - Acceptable Food Waste: https://www.torusai.org/acceptable-food-waste See which food scraps and compostable materials Torus can accept for pickup. - Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.torusai.org/frequently-asked-questions Get answers about Torus compost pickups, accepted materials, service areas, and participation. - Contact Torus: https://www.torusai.org/contact Contact Torus for composting support, volunteering, grants, donations, and partnerships in New Jersey. - Free Composting in New Jersey: https://www.torusai.org/free-composting-in-new-jersey Get free curbside composting in New Jersey with Torus. See how the service works and sign up in minutes. - New Jersey Composting Guide: https://www.torusai.org/composting-new-jersey Compare New Jersey composting options, rules, accepted materials, and free Torus pickup areas. - Composting Near Me: https://www.torusai.org/composting-near-me Find free and accessible curbside composting pickup near you in New Jersey. - The Food Waste Problem: https://www.torusai.org/the-problem Understand the environmental impact of food waste and why composting matters in New Jersey. - Types of Composting: Methods and Comparisons: https://www.torusai.org/composting Compare composting methods for homes, apartments, and facilities. Learn hot vs. cold composting, worms vs. bokashi, accepted materials, and how to start. - What Is Torus?: https://www.torusai.org/what-is-torus Learn what Torus is: a youth-led nonprofit offering free curbside composting to households across New Jersey. - Volunteer with Torus: https://www.torusai.org/volunteer Volunteer with Torus to help expand composting access and food waste diversion. - Torus Nonprofit: https://www.torusai.org/nonprofit Learn about Torus as a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on composting access. - Support Sustainable Grants for Torus: https://www.torusai.org/support-sustainable-grants-torus Learn how grants and sponsorships help Torus expand sustainable composting service. - The Lawrenceville School Supporter Page: https://www.torusai.org/our-supporters/the-lawrenceville-school Learn how The Lawrenceville School supports Torus through grants, research, and opportunities to advance composting across New Jersey. - Clif Family Foundation Grant: https://www.torusai.org/our-supporters/clif-family-foundation Learn how a $20,000 Clif Family Foundation Open Call grant strengthens free Torus composting across New Jersey. - Matthew Gao: https://www.torusai.org/matthew-gao Read about Matthew Gao, Torus co-founder and CEO. - Zikang Jiang | Founder & Director of Torus: https://www.torusai.org/zikang-jiang Zikang (Zk) Jiang is the Founder and Director of Torus. He led the nonprofit's early growth, initial fundraising, and team building in New Jersey. - West Windsor Proposal: https://www.torusai.org/west-windsor-proposal Review the Torus proposal for expanding composting access in West Windsor. - Torus: https://www.torusai.org/torus Learn more about Torus, food waste reduction, composting, and community impact. - Privacy Policy: https://www.torusai.org/privacy Read how Torus handles website analytics, form submissions, donations, cookies, service providers, and privacy requests. ## City Landing Pages - Princeton, Mercer County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/princeton Your weekly food scraps, handled responsibly. - Trenton, Mercer County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/trenton New Jersey’s capital, composting made simple. - Hamilton, Mercer County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/hamilton Compost pickup that fits your schedule. - Woodbridge, Middlesex County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/woodbridge A practical way to cut household waste. - West Windsor, Mercer County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/west-windsor Keep organics separate and the trash lighter. - East Windsor, Mercer County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/east-windsor Less waste, more soil, no hassle. - Princeton Junction, Mercer County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/princeton-junction Compost made easy for households. - Lawrence, Mercer County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/lawrence Start with one bucket and build the routine. - Lawrenceville, Mercer County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/lawrenceville From peelings to soil, with simple steps. - Pennington, Mercer County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/pennington Turn scraps into soil, one pickup at a time. - Hopewell, Mercer County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/hopewell Simple composting, real local impact. - Skillman, Somerset County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/skillman A cleaner trash bin starts with composting. - Montgomery, Somerset County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/montgomery Food scraps belong in compost, not the trash. - Monmouth County, Monmouth County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/monmouth Make food waste reduction part of everyday life. - Franklin, Somerset County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/franklin Do the easy thing that adds up over time. - Somerset, Somerset County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/somerset A simple food-scrap routine for Somerset homes. - Mercerville, Mercer County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/mercerville Compost at home without the backyard pile. - Robbinsville, Mercer County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/robbinsville Join neighbors reducing food waste together. - Plainsboro, Middlesex County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/plainsboro Small habit, measurable diversion. - Monroe, Middlesex County: https://www.torusai.org/cities/monroe Made for busy kitchens and full compost pails. ## Composting Method Guides - Aerated Static Pile Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/aerated-static-pile-composting Best for: Sites that need faster processing and less active-phase turning. Learn aerated static pile composting, forced vs. passive airflow, mixing, monitoring, and curing. Compare ASP with windrows and understand blower limitations. - Anaerobic Digestion: https://www.torusai.org/composting/anaerobic-digestion Best for: Engineered facilities handling pumpable or preprocessed organics. Compare anaerobic digestion with aerobic composting. Learn how digesters produce biogas and digestate, what happens to residuals, and how food inputs differ. - Apartment Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/apartment-composting Best for: Renters and households without private outdoor soil. Explore apartment composting with or without worms. Compare collection, bokashi, and worm bins, manage storage and odors, and find a destination for scraps. - Backyard Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/backyard-composting Best for: Households with a yard and a steady supply of dry leaves. Start backyard composting with the right bin, browns and greens, moisture, and airflow. Compare bins and piles, solve odors, and know when compost is ready. - Bokashi Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/bokashi-composting Best for: Small spaces with a reliable place to finish fermented scraps. Learn bokashi fermentation, accepted foods, bucket setup, and the essential finishing stage. Compare bokashi vs. vermicomposting for small-space composting. - Cold Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/cold-composting Best for: Gardeners who value low effort more than fast compost. Learn cold composting with minimal turning, safe inputs, winter storage, and harvesting. Compare passive and hot piles and troubleshoot slow decomposition. - Community Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/community-composting Best for: Neighborhoods, schools, gardens, farms, and local nonprofits. Plan a community composting site with clear roles, suitable equipment, and realistic capacity. Learn feedstock rules, daily operations, and local compost use. - Green Cone Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/green-cone-composting Best for: Households with sunny, well-drained soil that want food disposal rather than compost. Compare a Green Cone food digester with a compost bin. Learn siting, drainage, food inputs, winter limits, and why this system produces little usable compost. - Hot Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/hot-composting Best for: Gardeners with enough material to build a full batch. Learn hot composting temperatures, batch setup, turning, and curing. Compare hot vs. cold composting and understand why fast breakdown is not finished compost. - In-Vessel Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/in-vessel-composting Best for: Institutions and facilities needing a compact, enclosed active process. Learn in-vessel composting, feedstock preparation, process control, and curing. Compare enclosed systems with windrows and evaluate full-facility capacity. - Sheet Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/sheet-composting Best for: Creating or rebuilding garden beds several months before planting. Learn sheet composting and lasagna gardening with clean layered materials. Compare mulch and trench methods, prepare cardboard, and plan when to plant. - Trench Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/trench-composting Best for: Gardeners with open beds and no need to harvest a separate compost pile. Learn how to trench compost plant scraps in garden soil, choose a site, and plan planting. Compare trench vs. sheet composting and prevent common problems. - Tumbler Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/tumbler-composting Best for: Small yards where containment and easier mixing matter. Compare compost tumblers and stationary bins. Learn batch management, browns and greens, rotation, curing, and fixes for wet clumps, odors, and slow compost. - Urban Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/urban-composting Best for: City residents, property managers, and neighborhood organizers. Compare urban composting through curbside pickup, drop-off, building collection, and home systems. Learn storage, material rules, and processor options. - Vermicomposting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/vermicomposting Best for: Apartments, classrooms, and households with limited food scraps. Start vermicomposting with suitable worms, bedding, and food scraps. Compare worm bins with bokashi and backyard composting, then learn feeding and harvesting. - Windrow Composting: https://www.torusai.org/composting/windrow-composting Best for: Farms, municipalities, and commercial sites with land and mobile equipment. Learn windrow composting setup, turning, moisture control, curing, and screening. Compare windrows with aerated static piles and plan the complete facility. ## Blog Articles - Torus Joins EPA's Feed It Onward Initiative: https://www.torusai.org/blog/torus-epa-feed-it-onward-partner Torus is now an official Feed It Onward partner and appears on EPA's partner list, connecting our New Jersey food waste work with a national initiative. Updated 2026-09-10. - Compost Not Breaking Down? How to Fix Common Problems: https://www.torusai.org/blog/compost-not-breaking-down-troubleshooting-guide Fix compost that smells, stays wet, dries out, or will not heat up. A practical troubleshooting guide with Rutgers, Cornell, and EPA sources. Updated 2026-09-08. - Torus Featured on the 2026 Shift Impact Grant Shortlist: https://www.torusai.org/blog/torus-shift-impact-grant-shortlist-2026 Torus was featured among seven shortlisted teams in Shift's 2026 Impact Grant announcement for its work expanding composting access in New Jersey. Updated 2026-08-22. - Community Composting in New Jersey: How Local Programs Grow: https://www.torusai.org/blog/community-composting-in-new-jersey Find or start a community composting program in New Jersey. Compare pickup and drop-off options, plan a pilot, and reduce contamination. Updated 2026-09-08. - How Compost Improves Soil Health and Water Retention: https://www.torusai.org/blog/how-compost-improves-soil-health Learn how compost improves soil structure and water retention, how to use it in beds and lawns, and when soil testing can prevent overapplication. Updated 2026-09-08. - Can You Compost Meat, Dairy, and Cooked Food?: https://www.torusai.org/blog/can-you-compost-meat-dairy-and-cooked-food Meat, dairy, bones, and cooked food are difficult in backyard piles but may be accepted by commercial organics programs. Learn why. Updated 2026-07-12. - How to Do a Home Food Waste Audit in One Week: https://www.torusai.org/blog/how-to-do-a-home-food-waste-audit A simple seven-day food waste audit reveals what your household throws away, why it happens, and which habits will reduce it most. Updated 2026-07-12. - Anaerobic Digestion vs. Composting: What Is the Difference?: https://www.torusai.org/blog/anaerobic-digestion-vs-composting Anaerobic digestion and composting both recycle organics, but they use different biology and produce different outputs. Compare the two. Updated 2026-07-12. - How to Start a School Food Scrap Composting Program: https://www.torusai.org/blog/how-to-start-a-school-food-scrap-composting-program A practical plan for school food scrap collection, from the first waste audit and staff roles to student education and contamination checks. Updated 2026-07-12. - How to Keep Composting Through a New Jersey Winter: https://www.torusai.org/blog/winter-composting-new-jersey Composting can continue through a New Jersey winter. Learn how cold affects a pile, how to store browns, and how curbside pickup helps. Updated 2026-07-12. - Summer Composting Tips for New Jersey Homes: https://www.torusai.org/blog/summer-composting-tips-new-jersey Manage food scraps during hot New Jersey weather with practical advice for moisture, odors, insects, backyard piles, and curbside buckets. Updated 2026-07-12. - Can You Compost Coffee Grounds and Filters?: https://www.torusai.org/blog/can-you-compost-coffee-grounds-and-filters Coffee grounds and most plain paper filters can be composted. Learn how much to add, what to avoid, and how to prevent a soggy pile. Updated 2026-07-12. - How to Store Food Scraps Between Compost Pickups: https://www.torusai.org/blog/how-to-store-food-scraps-between-compost-pickups Keep food scraps clean and odor-free between compost pickups with practical container, freezer, moisture, and cleaning tips. Updated 2026-07-12. - How Businesses and Restaurants Can Compost in New Jersey: https://www.torusai.org/blog/how-businesses-and-restaurants-can-compost-in-new-jersey New Jersey has a food waste recycling law for large generators. Here is what businesses should know and how to comply. Updated 2026-07-12. - Common Composting Myths, Debunked: https://www.torusai.org/blog/common-composting-myths-debunked Composting is easier than its reputation suggests. We clear up the most common myths about smell, pests, and effort. Updated 2026-07-12. - Where Your Food Scraps Go After Pickup: https://www.torusai.org/blog/where-your-food-scraps-go-after-pickup Curious what happens after your compost bucket is collected? Here is how anaerobic digestion turns food waste into energy. Updated 2026-07-12. - How to Compost in an Apartment or Small Space: https://www.torusai.org/blog/composting-in-an-apartment-or-small-space You do not need a yard to compost. Here are practical options for apartments and small spaces, plus a no-hassle pickup route. Updated 2026-07-12. - The Benefits of Curbside Compost Pickup: https://www.torusai.org/blog/benefits-of-curbside-compost-pickup Curbside compost pickup makes composting easy for people without time or space for a backyard pile. Here is why it works. Updated 2026-07-12. - Torus Publishes Food Waste Research on SSRN: https://www.torusai.org/blog/torus-food-waste-research-ssrn-2024 Torus published its first research paper on SSRN, examining food waste systems, information flow, and direct donation through discrete event simulation. Updated 2024-11-27. - How to Reduce Food Waste in Your Kitchen: https://www.torusai.org/blog/reduce-food-waste-in-your-kitchen Simple habits that cut food waste at home in New Jersey, from smarter shopping to understanding date labels. Updated 2026-07-12. - Torus at West Windsor Community Day 2024: https://www.torusai.org/blog/torus-west-windsor-community-day-2024 Torus met residents at West Windsor Community Day in New Jersey on September 21, 2024, sharing its free curbside composting service with local leaders. Updated 2024-09-21. - Composting vs. Recycling: What Goes Where: https://www.torusai.org/blog/composting-vs-recycling-what-goes-where Composting and recycling both keep waste out of landfills, but they handle different materials. Here is how to tell them apart. Updated 2026-07-12. - How Composting Helps Fight Climate Change: https://www.torusai.org/blog/how-composting-helps-fight-climate-change Food in landfills releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Here is how composting reduces those emissions and why it matters. Updated 2026-07-12. - What Can You Compost? A Guide to Food Scraps: https://www.torusai.org/blog/what-can-you-compost-food-scraps-guide A clear guide to what you can and cannot compost at home, from fruit peels and coffee grounds to what to leave out. Updated 2026-07-12. - How to Start Composting at Home in New Jersey: https://www.torusai.org/blog/how-to-start-composting-at-home-new-jersey A simple, practical guide to composting at home in New Jersey, plus a free curbside option if you would rather skip the pile. Updated 2026-07-12. ## Discovery Files - Sitemap index: https://www.torusai.org/sitemap.xml - Pages sitemap: https://www.torusai.org/pages-sitemap.xml - Cities sitemap: https://www.torusai.org/cities-sitemap.xml - Blog sitemap: https://www.torusai.org/blog-sitemap.xml - Composting methods sitemap: https://www.torusai.org/composting-sitemap.xml - LLM summary: https://www.torusai.org/llms.txt