The Kitchn recently posted about the great green compost carts that are now part of San Francisco's waste removal program. We've been reading up on what is and is not acceptable, and realized we still had some things to learn...
Like, did you know pizza boxes can't be recycled in the blue bin? In fact any "food-soiled paper item" shouldn't be with the rest of your paper products, but rather in the green compost bin. Interesting! What's more, waxed cardboard, wooden crates, paper milk cartons, and even sawdust should go in your new green friend. We had no idea.
You can learn more next Tuesday at the Ferry Building's Waste Wise Market Celebration, where they'll be promoting the compost and recycling bins newly added to the building. We suggest stopping by on your lunch break if you're downtown for some information and to pick up one of the reusable tote bags that they will be giving away. Or if you're like most of us working stiffs and can't make it down there for the festivities, check out the San Francisco Recycling website to see if you've got your recycling down better than we do.
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Comments (13)
where can one buy these green and blue carts? is this picture taken in the US? I am trying to buy two for my multifamily building, can't seem to find them anywhere in NYC
is there a way to get my landlord to get one? for some reason our building is green cart-free. :(
The garbage company in SF is called Sunset Scavenger. They actually give us those bins (if you don't have them, I think you should just let them know). It's worth a call or email, they might sell them.
I've been wondering how I should be using the compost bin! Thanks for the info.
1 of the many things i love about SF...also, their handy cards/mini posters are helpful to help keep things straight. You can download a pdf of them at their website.
http://www.sfrecycling.com/residential/composting.php?t=r
Oh...my...god...I've been tossing pizza boxes in the blue bin for years! And I used to live upstairs from the city's Manager of Recycling (or something like that.) You'd think I would have known better.
Thanks for the tips!
You can recycle pizza boxes if they are clean. If they are soiled with food then it goes in the compost or trash if you don't have compost. Or cut out the soiled part and recycle the rest. Also tin foil can't be recycled if it is soiled. Also make sure that you don't confuse the Green Compost trash can with the Green Waste trash can. We don't have the Compost Can in our town. Only the Green Waste.
We normally wash all the tin foil delivery containers, but I often wonder - is it worth it? since we wash them with water and soap and in winter the water is hot - so more energy to do that... although I do understand this is only a fraction of energy used for doing dishes - but still.....
SFGail thanks for the tip, I will give them a call.
I know paper towels are not eco-friendly, but for the times one uses them for food spills or as a last resort napkin, they can also be tossed into the green compost bin.
Toronto has had a similar program for several years. It's great. In the spring, the city delivers free truckloads of city compost to neighbourhoods for residents to take.
The amount of material diverted to compost and recycling visibly reduces the amount of waste going to landfill/incineration. Garbage pick-up is only every other week and many households don't even manage to fill their garbage bins.
My husband I recycle and compost religiously as well. And like Theoj have seen a considerably difference in our black garbage bin.
Only thing, we rent a home and have another tenant downstairs in the in-law who has no clue about recycling. UGH. So we end up separating her trash constantly.
I like seeing how much we accumulate in the compost bin... and how our garbage can fills up less quickly now. Makes me feel virtuous somehow.
I would also like to encourage my landlord to get one. Does anyone know how much it costs a month? I'll try checking the website...