SF Schtuff reminded me today that beginning October 21, all San Francisco households and businesses are required to separate recyclables, compostables and landfill trash and participate in recycling and composting programs.
That means that you’re not supposed to scrape kitchen scraps into your regular trash anymore. They should be put into your green, compost bin for collection. For many of us, me included, this is a new practice and frankly it sort of sounds like a pain in the butt.
So the city is doing what it can to ease the transition, including providing free green kitchen pails to anyone who needs one. These are small containers that can sit on your counter, under the sink -wherever it’s convenient. Line the pail with a compostable garbage bag (“Bio Bag”), available at most supermarkets these days, and you’ve got a pretty painless solution that does the earth good.
To get your free green kitchen pail, go to recyclingmoments.org and click the “Get a green or blue cart” link on the left hand side. When the form pops up, look for the “I’m inquiring about” section and select “Free kitchen pail”.
The site also has great info on what goes into what cart, now that we have three to contend with. The easiest way to remember what goes in your green cart is this: everything that used to be alive. Here’s a list of items that should go in the green cart:
Food: fruits, vegetables, meat and bones, rice, cheese
Soiled paper: napkins, butter wrappers, coffee filters and tea bags, paper plates, greasy pizza boxes
Waxed paper: paper milk and ice cream cartons, paper takeout containers
Plants: flowers, plants, grass, weeds, twigs
Compostable plastics: Plastic bottles or food containers that are clearly labeled “compostable”
I ordered my free pail last week and haven’t heard anything yet. But I have faith my little green friend will join my household soon, at least in time for October 21 when the law goes into effect.
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UPDATE (Aug 18, 2009): I got an email from Lulu at my garbage company that said “Please call our service dept 415-626-4000 to set up the program before I can send you a green pail”. Hmm…
Sarah B.
Thanks for the link! I just requested one. Free is definitely cheaper than buying one at Kamei… Though that’s probably a good place to get one, actually. They have such cute little cans and buckets.
hey thanks for the tip!
I was wondering what to do about that, since I live in an apartment, and this makes it easy to comply and avoid The Man hitting us with fines. Thank you very much for this great tip!!!!!!!
San Francisco has had municipal composting for some time… for free!!
Is the Richmond District doing something different from San Francisco??
Yes, you’re right, Jacob – you have been able to compost through regular garbage pickup for a long time now. The difference is that on October 21, the city will make it a required law. So this will require a lot of people, me included, to change their habits (e.g. not just throw food scraps in the regular trash).
And please don’t use profanity when you post. Thanks