Did you know that the food waste that you put into trash that goes to landfills is a major contributor to Climate Change?  The organic waste in landfills decomposes and emits methane which is a far more potent greenhouse gas than CO2. It is also not good practice to put food waste down your “garbage” disposal as it overloads our local wastewater treatment facilities and, yes, generates methane. In March of 2022, Washington state became the ninth state to enact a law banning food and other organic waste from landfills. No later than January 1, 2027 all communities have to provide for separate collection of organic materials.

There are compost collection bins at both main recycling centers at Panorama. These go to an industrial compost production facility that has restrictions on what can go in the bin. Please make sure to follow the rules below.

What goes in the Compost Bin?

• YES Food scraps (fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, pizza, rice, dairy, eggshells, meat and bones, seafood and shells, etc.).
• YES Coffee grounds, coffee filters & tea bags.
• YES Food soiled paper such as kitchen paper towels & napkins.
• NO Compostable plastics or paper like bags, plates, forks & spoons, etc.
• NO Bags of any kind.
• NO Paper plates, microwave trays, take-out food containers.
• NO Newspaper
• NO Shredded paper
• NO Paper towels used for cleaning with cleaning chemicals or bathroom waste paper.
• NO Compostable k-cups.
• NO Cardboard (like pizza boxes or other food containers).

Return to main Recycling page.