Food & Yard Waste - Apartment/Condo Owners
By law, Seattle apartment and condominium properties of five or more units now provide a food waste collection cart for residents to use.
If you would like a smaller or larger cart for food and yard waste, if service is missed, or if you do not get a new liner in your cart, please call (206) 684-7665.
Final Two FORC Trainings
After signing up with SPU, your FORC is eligible to attend an optional FORC training to qualify for free kitchen food scrap carry-out buckets for all units at your property. Only properties that participate in a FORC training qualify for the free buckets.
Only two trainings are scheduled and space is limited. The next trainings are:
- April 23, evening, Queen Anne (Must register by April 18)
- May 23, daytime, West Seattle (Must register by May 18)
Pre-registration is required. Call (206) 684-5223 or email eberley.wedlake@seattle.gov.
Food and Yard Waste Service Options
- Cart sizes and costs.
- Curb/Alley service - Carts must be set out by 7:00 a.m. and retrieved after collection. Most economical option.
- On-site service - Collectors access and empty the carts wherever they are located. Most convenient and more frequent collection available.
- Contact private waste hauling companies to compare services and pricing.
Friend of Recycling and Composting (FORC) $100 Credit
To receive a $100 credit on your utility bill, sign up a person at your property to be a Friend of Recycling and Composting (pdf).
FORC Sign Up
- Sign up online for a Friend of Recycling and Composting (FORC) (pdf).
- Call (206) 684-7665 to sign up with an SPU customer service representative.
- Call (206) 684-8717, press #1 for a paper information packet and application.
- Cover letter for managers (pdf).
Resources for Success at Your Property
- Educate your residents with Free Flyers, Posters, and Videos. Available in multiple languages.
- Five Steps to Success with your Food and Yard Waste Cart (pdf)
- You'll find lots of helpful food waste information in the special Winter 2012 Apartment/Condo Conservation E-Newsletter (pdf).
Compost on Your Property
Some properties may also wish to make compost at home. Composting on your property can save money and benefit the environment. However, no dairy or meat products should go in a home pile due to potential odor or pest problems. Food waste such as soiled pizza boxes, napkins, and paper towels should also go into the cart.
Related links
Food & Yard Waste for Residents of Apartments & Condos
Reduce, Reuse, Exchange - Keep useful items out of the waste stream
Can I recycle this item? Look It Up!
Play the Where Does It Go? Recycling Game
Cedar Grove Composting - Local processor of food and yard compost materials