What goes in my food scraps and yard debris cart?

Tips & Guidelines
Food scraps & yard debris service costs less than garbage service and creates a valuable product to use in parks and gardens. Approximately 30% of all material that ends up in the landfill could be composted instead. When you keep food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard debris separate from your garbage, you extend the life of our landfills and conserve resources.

Your food scraps & yard debris cart is collected every-other-week on your garbage collection day. Food scraps & yard debris collection weeks coincide with recycling collection weeks. Login to your account to determine your collection week.

To sign up for service call Recology CleanScapes at 206.762.4900.

Materials Collected

Put these types of materials in your food scraps and yard debris cart:
Food scraps

  • Fruits, vegetables
  • Bread, pasta, grains
  • Eggshells, nutshells
  • Fish, meat, dairy
  • Shells, bones
  • Coffee grounds and filters
  • Tea bags

Food-soiled paper

  • Paper towels and napkins
  • Uncoated paper plates and cups
  • Uncoated paper take-out cartons
  • Pizza delivery boxes
  • Paper bags containing food scraps

Yard debris

  • Grass clippings
  • Leaves, twigs
  • Weeds
  • Houseplants
  • Branches (under 4′ long, 4″ wide)
DO NOT place these items in your food scraps and yard debris cart:
  • Glass
  • Animal or human waste
  • Pet litter
  • Diapers
  • Plastic
  • StyrofoamTM

  • Foil
  • Soil
  • Rocks
  • Stumps/limbs (over 4′ long, 4″ wide)
  • Lumber or fencing
  • Painted or treated wood
  • Metal

Download the Food Scraps and Yard Debris Cart Poster:

English


Watch the Kitchen Composting 101 video below for tips.

More videos from King County: Love Your Leftovers | Shop Smart | Store It Right