Curbside Yard/Food Scrap Collection

Yard Waste Discouraged from Garbage in Snohomish County

Yard waste is discouraged from garbage containers in Snohomish County. Yard trimmings create methane gas in landfills, but can provide nutritious compost and mulch if composted.

You can dispose of yard trimmings by:

Composting in your yard
Putting yard trimmings in your yard/food cart to be collected at the curb
Taking yard trimmings to a transfer station that accepts "clean green".

Food Scraps Accepted in Yard Carts

Curbside yard/food scrap collection is included with the City of Mountlake Terrace's curbside garbage collection at no additional charge.

Curbside Yard/Food Scrap Collection Yes and No

Food scraps and food-soiled paper go only in the Food / Yard cart provided by Waste Management. Food scraps are not accepted in any other containers.




Kitchen Food Scrap Collection: You can use containers such as:

• Used paper bags (or)
• A reusable container with a vented lid lined with used paper towel or shredded paper - Empty into Food / Yard cart and reuse (or)
• Cedar Grove-approved compostable bags
  
  Do not put plastic in your cart.

More Kitchen Compost Container Options



To avoid odor & fruit flies, you can:

• Empty food scraps into the outside cart daily.
• Rinse kitchen container frequently.
• Line kitchen container with a used paper towel, paper bag, shredded paper, or approved compostable bag*.
• Sprinkle baking soda in kitchen container.
• Rub container lid with vinegar
• Layer food & yard trimmings in your cart.
• Layer shredded paper with food and yard trimmings.
• Contact Waste Management to replace your Food / Yard cart.

Extra Yard Trimmings: There is a charge for additional units of yard trimmings (no food scraps) beyond the basic service. * Yard trimmings are not accepted in plastic bags. Plastic bags are not compostable and cause processing and odor problems at the composting facility. For yard trimmings that don't fit in your yard cart you may use: Paper yard bags (available at home and garden stores) Reusable polywoven yard bags, or 32-gal cans with handles & lids (65 lb limit) labeled "Yard" or Bundles tied with sisal twine (4'x2' limit)

Where Does It Go?

Collected yard trimmings and food scraps are processed into compost and sold at home and garden stores.

Visit www.cedar-grove.com for more information.




BioCycle's 2007 nationwide survey identified 42 communities and/or counties with source separated residential organics collection programs in the U.S. There are 17 programs in California, 1 in Michigan, 7 in Minnesota and 17 in Washington State (all in King County). More