Seattle residents increase food waste composting 47%

Seattle residents increase food waste composting 47%

April 16

Seattle residents increased food waste composting by 47% in 2009, according to Seattle Public Utilities and Cedar Grove Composting.

In 2009, city residents sent 89,000 tons of organics and food waste into the city composting program instead of the landfill, SPU reported, an increase of 47% over the previous year.

The city began offering weekly collections of organic wastes to help reduce organics in its landfill; in 2008 the city estimated food waste comprised 20% of the waste stream going to landfills.

To further raise awareness of the composting option, SPU and Cedar Grove Composting have launched a new campaign, ôCompost Days,ö which runs through May 30. Seattle residents will be given coupons for two free bags of Cedar Grove compost and free Green Kitchen Kits. These coupons are available in Pacific Northwest Magazine and the Sunday Seattle Times during late April and May.

"The City of Seattle would like to congratulate residents for substantially increasing the amount of food they recycle," said Tim Croll, SPU solid waste director. "On any given week, more than half of Seattle subscribers are putting their food and yard waste carts out for collection. By turning our food waste into compost we are keeping Seattle´s gardens, yards and parks green and healthy."

For more information on the composting promotion visit http://atyourservice.seattle.gov or call 206-684-3000.

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Amanda Smith-Teutsch at 330-865-6166 or asmith-teutsch@crain.com

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