Dive Brief:
- A new law prohibiting excess volumes of food from being tossed into the waste bin went into effect on January 1 in Seattle, WA.
- Beginning in July, households can be fined $1 per infraction. Those fines will be tacked onto trash bills.
- In the meantime, haulers will post notices on customers' bins informing them that they cannot have excess compostable or recyclable waste in the trash. The ban is part of an effort to increase the recycling rate and encourage composting across the city.
Dive Insight:
Nearly three-quarters of Seattle residents agreed with the ban. The law also bans food contaminated materials from being tossed alongside the trash, including napkins, cardboard with food residue, and paper towels.
Although the ordinance is now in effect, fines won’t be implemented until July, and they will only be levied if more than 10% of the waste in the trash bin is determined to be comprised of food. Property managers and businesses within the city limits could be fined $50 if food isn’t composted.
As cities become increasingly aware of the benefits of organics recycling, many have already established their own food bans, including New York City, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Portland, OR.
