Don’t forget curbside recycling in fall clean-up

Seasonal yard waste pickups are over for the autumn.

But the good news is that Snoqualmie residents can still recycle yard waste, even food scraps and food-soiled paper, in their curbside yard waste cart.

While there is a small subscription fee for this service, it’s possible to offset the cost by downsizing to a smaller size garbage can. Once you recycle all you can, including placing yard trimmings and food scraps in the yard waste cart, there isn’t much left to put into the garbage can.

In addition to the yard trimmings and debris, yard waste service subscribers can also put vegetable and fruit trimmings, meat, fish, bones, dairy products, napkins, pizza delivery boxes and other food-soiled paper in their carts.

To get in the habit, the first step is to pick the right kitchen-counter food scrap collection container for your family. Food-scrap collection can be as simple as wrapping the scraps in a paper bag which can be recycled along with the food, using an old coffee can, or using containers designed specifically for food scrap recycling that come in stainless steel, ceramic or bamboo.

To keep it clean, empty your countertop container into your yard waste cart frequently. If you want to avoid a messy kitchen-counter container, try compostable bags. These bags can line your container, and once full can go directly into the yard waste cart. For a list of retailers that sell approved compostable bags in Snoqualmie and other King County cities, see www.recyclefood.com.

When you recycle all your yard debris and food scraps instead of throwing it in the garbage, they are turned into compost for local gardens and parks. To subscribe to yard waste service or to change your garbage can size, contact your waste hauler: Allied Waste at (425) 392-6651.

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