Tips for Recycling Food Scraps
The average family in King County throws away about nine pounds of food every week. That adds up to 470 pounds a year per family! Imagine the impact your family can have just by recycling egg shells, apple cores, pizza boxes and other compostable materials.
If you live in a house and have yard waste service, you now can recycle all your food scraps and food-soiled paper in your yard waste cart. Many students and teachers recycle at school and it’s easier than you think to recycle more -- including food scraps -- at home. Here’s how:
Step #1: Find the best kitchen food scrap container for you. Here are some options.
- A paper bag. Recycle the bag along with the food scraps.
- A reusable plastic container with a lid. Empty contents into your cart and reuse the container.
- Ceramic, bamboo or stainless steel food scrap collection containers.
- Approved kitchen compostable bags make collection free of mess and odor. Visit http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/garbage-recycling/biodegradable-bags.asp to find out where they can be purchased in your community.
King County residents outside the city of Seattle can request a free compostable bag sample by e-mail at sample.swd@kingcounty.gov or by phone at 206-296-4466.
Step #2: Collect food scraps and soiled paper
- Gather scraps such as meat, fish, bones, vegetable and fruit trimmings, bread, pasta and coffee grounds.
- Plastic and plastic- or wax-coated paper, such as milk cartons, are NOT allowed, but paper plates such as Chinet-brand are.
- If you’re concerned about odors or fruit flies, place your food scraps in compostable bags or in a closed paper bag – or store them in the refrigerator or freezer until collection day.
Step #3: Add them to your yard waste cart
- When your kitchen container fills up, dump the contents into your yard waste cart.
- No yard waste service? Contact your waste hauler to subscribe.
Recycle More. It’s Easy to Do. For recycling tips and more, visit www.kingcounty.gov/recyclemore or www.recyclefood.com, or become a Recycle More Facebook friend at www.facebook.com/recyclemore.
