A New Seattle Law Bans Food in Garbage – Are You Prepared to Comply?
Seattle residents need to be aware of a new law that went into effect at the beginning of the year regarding what they put into their garbage. In effort to be greener, Seattle is forcing residents’ hands to recycle or pay a price. As of January 1st, food and food waste cannot be thrown in your trash can. Food waste includes things like pizza boxes, dirty napkins and used paper towels. Any single family home that has more than 10 percent of their trash filled with food, food waste and other recyclables will be assessed a $1 fine on their next garbage bill. To avoid this fee, homeowners can take advantage of the yard and food waste collection service or learn how to compost. Composting is environmentally safe and will help you avoid that fee while keeping Seattle green (can you tell that we’re huge fans of composting???). You will find a whole host of composting tools at Greenwood Hardware.
Some people are unaware of composting or have a very wrong idea about it. You don’t have to have big, stinky heaps of trash in your backyard all in the name of compost. There are plenty of options that are more suitable for city or suburb living. One option is the compost pail. It resembles a small trash can that can easily be stored in your kitchen or under the sink. It has a lid and will prevent any bad odors from wafting out. The stainless steel material is sleek and doesn’t look like a composter, which is important when you have it in your kitchen.
Another option is something called a compost bag that pops into a receptacle. The bag will keep your food scraps contained and out of sight. The bags are made with a breathable material that allows the food waste to dry quickly instead of sitting in the bucket, fermenting, molding and rotting, which creates the nasty odor.
You will easily be able to comply with the new law by using one of these options. The bins will encourage family members to scrape their plates into the proper trash can, which will help you avoid the fine. Be a good steward for Seattle and head into Greenwood Hardware today and pick up the tools you will need to properly dispose of your food waste! Come on in, or contact us today.