Residents in the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District can save money and reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill by recycling food scraps. Food waste in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Food waste that is carefully composted produces a natural, humus-like product that is a valuable soil amendment.
Collect kitchen scraps in compostable bags and deliver to several free drop sites located throughout the region. Drop site users find their household trash is greatly reduced (and smells a lot better too).
Free compostable bags are available from WLSSD at the Materials Recovery Center, Household Hazardous Waste facility, Yard Waste Site, and at the Administrative Offices, and most food waste drop sites. You can also purchase bags at many retailers locally. Just be sure the bags you use are certified compostable and carry the seal of the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI).
What’s the best set up to collect food scraps in my kitchen? There’s no single right answer, but these tips should get you started collecting food waste:
What kind of scraps can I put in the residential drop sites?
Our drop sites accept anything that is or was edible: raw and cooked food, meat, fish, small bones, spoiled/moldy food, fruits, vegetables, peels & pits, cheese, breads, dough, pasta, rice, old pet food, tea bags, coffee grounds & filters. We also accept compostable serve ware that has been BPI-certified (see next paragraph); look for the logo on packaging and the product itself. We do not accept food wrappers, pet waste & kitty litter, diapers & hygiene products, dirt & rocks, yard waste, pizza boxes, napkins, paper towels, paper plates and cups, and liquids.
No napkins, paper towels, and paper plates…Oh, why?
We get quite a few questions about dropping off paper products at our food scraps drop sites. We appreciate that residents recognize paper products as primarily biodegradable, but there’s a catch! Paper products and serve ware (and other food contact materials) can contain water and grease resistant chemicals called PFAS, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. These human-made chemicals have been used for decades for a lot of helpful uses including non-stick cookware, fire-fighting foam, tooth floss, shampoo, water-resistant clothing, and so much more. The scientific community is learning more about PFAS—its prevalence and persistence in the environment—and potential health effects with exposure to high concentrations. Therefore, we are doing our best to limit what goes into our compost to food scraps, yard waste, and BPI-Certified products. Why BPI? The Biodegradable Products Institute is committed to only certifying products as compostable if PFAS isn’t used in their formulations. As the science develops, and as new laws banning the use of PFAS in certain products are solidly in place, we will continue to use best practices. Thank you for your patience, and please know these efforts are in place to help us create a high-quality compost.
Keep your food scraps to mix with yard waste in your own backyard and create your own custom compost!