Originally published March 5, 2009 at 12:00 AM | Page modified March 5, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Comments (43)
E-mail article
Print view
Seattle recycling taken to next level
Seattle will become the first city in King County to mandate food- and yard-waste service March 30.
Seattle Times staff reporter
Seattle will become the first city in King County to mandate food- and yard-waste service March 30.
Unless they can prove they are composting food scraps, single-family homes will have to sign up for at least the smallest food-scrap bin — and add $3.60 to their monthly recycling bill. Food waste can still go in the trash. Food and yard waste go in the same bin.
Rates for garbage pickup are rising at the end of the month, too, by about $3 to $5 for residential customers. And recycling guidelines are changing slightly. Most notably, glass doesn't need to be separated from other recyclables.
"Life has gotten a lot more complicated since the days when we just threw everything in the trash," said Mayor Greg Nickels, who helped toss fake fruit, some dead flowers and a rubber chicken into a food-waste bin at a Wednesday morning news conference on Beacon Hill.
He held up a plastic fish for the television cameras: "If this were actually a fish, you could put this in your food waste."
The pageantry is part of an education campaign to prepare people for the changes coming at the end of this month.
City officials said residents already recycle almost 50 percent of their total waste. They hope the food-waste-recycling push will help the city get that number to the mayor's goal of 60 percent. Recycling more, and throwing out less garbage, is intended to help the city put off building a third transfer station.
In 2006, Seattle began enforcing its recycling rules. Trash collectors leave residents' garbage on the curb if more than 10 percent of the can's contents are recyclable. Last year, they left behind about 1,500 cans. Apartment buildings and businesses face fines if they don't recycle.
Seattle is being more aggressive than surrounding cities by mandating recycling and, as of this month, food-waste service.
But other cities in King County are actually a little ahead of Seattle in making food-waste collection widely available, said Josh Marx, a recycling planner for King County's Solid Waste Division. Seattle is adding meat and dairy products to the list of food items that can be recycled. Surrounding cities have been doing that for years, Marx said.
"King County and the city of Seattle, we're way ahead of the majority of the country," he said.
In Snohomish County, residents can put food waste — including meat and dairy — in their yard-debris containers.
![]()
Marx said all cities face the same challenge: getting people to use the service. That's what Seattle hopes the new requirement will do. "It's really a matter of habit," said the mayor.
For details on the new rates, recycling regulations, and — for most residents — a new collection day, watch for a flier the city is mailing this week.
Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
NEW - 01:28 AM
Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
NEW - 12:13 AM
How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall
Danny Westneat: Lee the Horse Logger found slow wagon shrank tumor
Parents want answers on new Seattle school boundaries
3 Cascade Mountain passes close due to snow; more rain, wind expected Sunday

Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Mourners gathered at KeyArena for the memorial service of Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton on November 6, 2009.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Briefs | Soccer: New Mexico suspends hair-pulling player Elizabeth Lambert
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
- Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman
- Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
- Heavy snow in Cascades shuts down roads
- Consortium on verge of owning Eastside railway land
- Suspect in officer's slaying shot by police
- UCLA game thread
939 - Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
389 - Weapons, bomb-making materials found in suspect's apartment
334 - Decision day for health care in the House
200 - McGinn widens lead over Mallahan in Seattle mayoral race
183 - U.S. House passes health plan
110 - Schools emerge as new tactic in gay marriage votes
99 - Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
95 - Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
82 - Referendum 71 show's Washington's strategy for marriage equality is working
80
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Consortium on verge of owning Eastside railway land
- Guest columnist | Cut the South Carolina jokes, Seattle. Get ready to compete
- Movie review | 'An Education' you won't forget
- Practical Mac | With new features, Apple's MobileMe is worth the price
- H1N1 vaccine for high-risk group coming to King Co. pharmacies
- Shoreline man killed when struck by falling tree part
- Do It in a Day | Spend a cozy, homey day in Edmonds









