New Requirements Start January 1
Every year, Seattle spends more than $13 million dollars to send its trash to a landfill in eastern Oregon. More than one-third of that material is made up of table scraps, coffee grounds, banana peels, chicken bones, and other food waste.
It’s not garbage anymore! Starting January 1, 2015, the City of Seattle will no longer allow food and compostable paper, including food-soiled cardboard, paper napkins and paper towels, in the garbage. After July 1, 2015 fines will be issued to businesses and residents whose garbage containers contain too much food or recyclables.
Today, more than 300,000 single-family, multi-family and commercial establishments participate in Seattle’s food and yard waste program – diverting nearly 400,000 tons of food from the landfill through curbside food collection since 2005.
Call 206-684-3000 or go to www.seattle.gov/util/foodwaste to learn more and receive tips and advice on how to get started composting today.