Seattle's New Composting Law in Full Effect

Seattle's Composting Law, as displayed all around town by the poster above, is confusing to visitors and residents alike. The law, which started on its slippery slope in 1988 with just grass clippings, now includes a strict ban on food and paper waste. As of July 1, 2015, Seattleites no longer can put food, compostable items, or recyclable items into the garbage without being fined.

Seattle sends approximately 100,000 tons of food waste 300 miles to a landfill in Eastern Oregon each year, resulting in higher costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Based on the success of Seattle’s existing recycling and yard waste ordinances, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) projects that the food waste law will divert 38,000 tons of food scraps from the landfill via composting, thus helping the city achieve its goal of recycling and composting 60 percent of its waste by 2015.

I experienced the confusion visitors feel when trying to comply with the new program. Even the business proprietors stated they spend time moving items from receptacle to receptacle. Ha!

Posted by Note Taker