Wanting to compost but don't have compostable bags? First, if you use a bag, make sure you are using compostable bags. 

While compostable bags are a great resource for some, they are not everyone's cup of tea. Here are some other food waste collection ideas: 

• Use newspaper as a liner for your kitchen compost container; alternatively, wrap the food in newspaper and place the packet in your cart. 
• Place shredded paper on the bottom to soak up liquids and make it easier to remove scraps for your compost container. 
• Freeze your food waste! Place, your food container in the freezer to lessen the smell, and be able to fill the bin and dispose whenever you're ready. 
• Empty your bin more often to reduce odors and eliminate fruit flies.
• Bury your kitchen food scraps: Give nutrients back into your yard and into your garden.

Don't know where, or how to compost? Check out our Compost More. Waste Less. to learn more information and gain the tools you need in order to start composting. 

Lots of holiday season food waste? Place a compost bin next to the trash so your guests can compost their extras; line the container with newspaper.  

Holiday food = holiday waste? Doesn't need to be!

Bought too many rolls for your holiday dinner? You can use stale bread to make croutons, or bread pudding. See our video that will teach you how to make the recipes above.  

New recycling rule starts Jan.2 at King County recycling and transfer stations, drop boxes. 

To reduce waste and save room in the landfill, King County Solid Waste Division (SWD) beginning Jan. 2 will require customers at solid waste transfer stations and drop boxes to recycle cardboard, scrap metal, yard waste, and clean wood at its facilities that accept those materials for recycling. Customers will be asked to place those recyclable materials in designated recycling bins or areas. 

“The items we’re targeting in the new recycling rule account for about one third of what self-haul customers bring to our facilities to be disposed as waste,” said Pat D. McLaughlin, SWD director.

The new rule applies to residents and businesses that haul their own garbage, recyclable and compostable materials to King County transfer stations and drop boxes. Self-haul customers use the public lanes at the transfer stations.

There will be no change in garbage disposal fees as a result of this recycling requirement. And customers could save money by keeping cardboard, scrap metal, clean wood and yard waste separate from their garbage.

There is no charge to recycle cardboard and scrap metal at the King County facilities that accept those items for recycling. Paper, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, plastic bottles, jugs and tubs, and textiles can also be recycled at no cost.

While there is a fee for recycling yard waste and clean wood (unpainted, untreated lumber, pallets and crates), that fee is 52 percent lower than the garbage disposal fee.

Employees at King County facilities will focus on informing customers about the new recycling rule and guiding them on where to place recyclable and compostable materials. The SWD has a process in place to fine customers with documented repeated violations of the new recycling requirement.
Recycling services vary by facility. Learn more about King County recycling and transfer station facilities and drop boxes at kingcounty.gov/recycling-transfer.

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