Food-composting programs are spreading across Westchester County.

"Beginning on Monday, we are kicking off a program where we are asking residents to now recycle their food waste," says Steve Altieri, superintendent of the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Joint Garbage Disposal Commission.

Altieri says the two municipalities are taking the idea from a program that started earlier this year in Scarsdale and now has nearly a thousand homes participating.

The program is voluntary and free with the exception of the $20 starter kit, which is optional. Participants put their food scraps like fruit, meat, rice and even eggshells into the bin.

Once the bin is full, the food scraps can be brought to a recycling center on Maxwell Avenue in Larchmont, which are then sent to a commercial composting facility to be converted into soil.

Residents say they're glad the idea of recycling food scraps is catching on.

"I think it's fabulous in other parts of the country they are doing it and I think it's great they are bringing it here," says Larchmont resident Allie Lyn.

With three Westchester municipalities participating, officials say they hope the program continues to grow.

The program is estimated to cost Larchmont and Mamaroneck a combined total of $4,000 a year, but officials believe the program will eventually save money as more residents get involved.

So far, more than 200 starter kits have been sold.