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Recycle Food. It’s Easy To Do.
Curbside Food Scrap Collection
85 percent of single family households in King County can now recycle food scraps in their yard waste bin. Food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard waste are composted regionally into a nutrient-rich soil amendment that improves the health of our plants, crops, local gardens and parks.
Nearly 30% of what we throw away in our garbage is organic – and the average single-family household throws away about 45 pounds of food scraps and food-soiled paper every month. Items such as vegetable and fruit trimmings, plate scrapings, egg shells, coffee grounds, paper towels and napkins–even greasy pizza delivery boxes–all can be recycled in your yard waste cart. In some areas meat, cheese and bones also can be recycled.
Food Scrap Recycling by City
Put food scraps and food-soiled paper in your yard waste cart so it can be recycled and made into compost. Food scrap recycling service is currently available to residents who live in the following cities.
Food Scrap Recycling by City (expand)
note: all links are external
If you're not sure if food scraps can be put in your yard waste collection container, check with your waste hauler.
Getting Started with Food Scrap Recycling
Select a kitchen collection container that suits your needs.
- 100 percent kitchen compostable bags for collecting food scraps are sold at many stores in King County
- Paper grocery bags, Recycle the bag along with the food scraps.
- Reusable containers such as a yogurt container or coffee can with a lid.
- Ceramic or stainless steel containers made especially for food scrap collection, and sold at kitchen shops. King County residents can purchase a discounted container online.
- Some cities offer free or discounted containers upon request. Check with your waste hauler for promotions in your city.
Learn what food scraps and soiled paper can be put in the yard waste cart.
These are the basic items that go in the cart:
Vegetable and fruit trimmings
Egg shells, bread, pasta and coffee grounds
Table scraps
Solid food leftovers
Paper towels and napkins
Paper coffee filters and tea bags
Greasy pizza delivery boxes.
For a detailed list check publications from your waste hauler.
Empty your kitchen container when full and empty it regularly.
When the weather is warm, and when a lot of food is collected, it´s better to empty the container every few days.
Avoiding odors and flies
If you´re concerned about odors and fruit flies:
- Use a kitchen container with a tight-fitting lid and/or a carbon filter.
- Put food scraps in a compostable bag, paper bag or wrap the food scraps in newspaper and store in the freeze until collection day.
- Rinse out your kitchen container after emptying it.
- Line the container with a scrap of cardboard, paper bag or paper towel.
- Sprinkle baking soda in the container.
- A small layer of shredded paper or newspaper can absorb liquids in your cart
- Keep your cart clean. Line the bottom with newspaper and/or layer food scraps and food-soiled paper with your yard waste. Using paper or compostable bags will also help keep the cart clean.
Don´t put these in the food scrap/yard waste bin
- Plastic-coated containers such as milk and ice cream containers.
- Plastic coated paper such as plates, cups and bowls. They do not degrade over time.
- Meat, fish, poultry, bones and dairy products are accepted by most King County communities, but some do not. If you have alternate week pick up, meat and bones are not accepted at this time. Check with your waste hauler to determine if these items are allowed in your yard waste cart.
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