Are there alternative uses for these non-compostable items?
We’ve been taught to reuse or recycle disposable products to lower the amount of garbage going to our landfills. So it’s no different with food.
You are now required to save compostable coffee grinds, vegetable peels, and other food scraps, and put it in the compost bin instead of throwing them out.
Seattle law requires it.
If you can compost it, that’s the easiest way to go with vegetable scraps or other foods that are eligible for composting.
Some things shouldn’t go in the compost.
Meats and fatty foods aren’t usually recommended. Dairy and wheat products can also cause a problem in your compost. It’s best to check with your local municipality to be sure.
Is it possible to ‘reuse ‘ the food that doesn’t compost well? There are a few things you can reuse or repurpose, instead of throwing them out. Here are a few examples.
Milk
If your milk has gone sour, you can use it for baking. Any recipe asking for milk will be improved by the added flavor of slightly sour milk.
Avocado
An overly ripe avocado makes a great moisturizing treatment for your hair. Mash it in a bowl, then apply it to wet or dry hair. Let it sit for an hour, then wash it out with your normal shampoo and conditioner.
Bread
Stale bread makes great bread crumbs. Pulse it in your blender or food processor for easy homemade bread crumbs. Add your favorite seasoning, and use it in your favorite recipes.
Yogurt
You can use past-its-prime plain yogurt to make an exfoliating face mask. The lactic acid in the yogurt acts to brighten your skin. Mix 2 tbsp yogurt and 1 tbsp honey. Apply evenly to your face and let it sit for 15 minutes, then wash it off with warm water.
Citrus fruit peels
Soak them to make your own DIY cleaning products.
Mayonnaise
Use old mayonnaise to shine up your stainless steel appliances. You can also use it to remove water stains from wooden table tops. Just apply thickly and leave for up to 48 hours, then wipe clean.
Seattle has a law banning food waste in landfills, meaning that all residents are required to compost their leftover kitchen scraps.
This includes uneaten food and inedible items like egg shells, pits, and peels. The municipality provides compostable pickup in most areas.
Another option is to compost the food waste yourself.
Seattle Municipal Code sections 21.36.082 and .083 don’t allow you to throw out food if you live in Seattle.
The law applies to residents and businesses. Even restaurants have to comply.
Compostable paper, yard waste, and other recyclables aren’t considered garbage anymore. They aren’t to be included in regular garbage pickup.
It’s been a gradual process for the City of Seattle.
Before they passed the ordinance, the City sent around 100,000 tons of food waste to a landfill in eastern Oregon each year. The food waste traveled 300 miles, further contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Now the City sends more than 125,000 tons of food and yard waste to composting processors. It’s turned into valuable healthy compost for gardens and farms.
Over the years, Seattle prohibited items from being thrown in the garbage, in an effort to reduce costs and volumes.
- In 1988, they began by banning yard waste. Then in 2005, Seattle passed an ordinance prohibiting residents from putting recyclable materials in the garbage.
- The same year, they started a food waste collection program, with curbside pickup.
- Next, all residential properties were required to belong to a food and yard waste collection program or do their own composting in their backyard.
- In 2011 they required multi-family buildings in Seattle to get on board with a compost collection service for their residents.
- Then they took the final step to prohibit food waste from going in the garbage.
It took quite a few years, but they’ve achieved their goal of reducing the volumes going to the landfill while creating valuable compost for use in gardens and farms.
Composting supports the earth.
- It saves energy by reducing the amount of garbage transported to the landfill.
- It protects our climate by reducing the amount of methane produced by compostable materials in the landfill.
- It returns valuable nutrients to the soil.