Curbside Composting

Composting your is an easy way to keep organic material out of the landfill and reduce the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. When food scraps are sent to the landfill, they emit methane, which is 25 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Compost made from the food scraps is a valuable resource for landscapers, farmers, community gardens, and home gardens. Using compost helps soil retain water and reduces water consumption.

When you put food scraps down the garbage disposal, it takes a lot of energy for wastewater treatment plants to clean the water – not to mention it can cost a lot of money to fix clogged up pipes and disposals.

Follow these tips to help reduce odor and mess Inside

1. Store your food scraps in a container such as a pitcher, pail, bucket, bin, milk carton, or paper bag.
2. Empty the container regularly into your compost cart.
3. Lining your kitchen pail or container is a helpful way to reduce mess but it is not required. Allowable liners: newspaper, paper bags, or BPI-certified compostable bags (no plastic). See below for examples of kitchen pail alternatives and pail liners.
4. Wash your kitchen pail with soap and water regularly. Add baking soda to absorb extra odor.
5. Refrigerate or freeze your food scraps until your collection day.

Follow these tips to help reduce odor and mess Outside

1. If there are no yard trimmings in the cart, layer some newspaper, paper bags or cardboard in the bottom to absorb moisture.
2. Try to pick up fallen inedible fruit weekly and add it to your cart to avoid attracting pests.
3. Keep the cart lid closed to prevent birds and animals from scavenging and making a mess.
4. Set out your cart every week for collection, even if not full. Store cart so it is screened from street view, and keep in a shady spot in hot weather.
5. Sprinkle baking soda in your cart to deodorize. If needed, lightly rinse out cart with mild soap, water, or a mild vinegar solution to discourage pests. Empty water into landscaping, never down the storm drain.
6. You can request a cart exchange for a small fee by contacting Recology.

Request a free pail below or use a pail alternative

Use a pail, pitcher, coffee can, cereal box (remove plastic bag) or other container that suits your needs and counter space.

Pail liners Options

BPI-certified compostable bag liners can be found at most grocery stores, hardware stores, big box stores like Target, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and online. BPI-certified bags come in several sizes, but 3 gallons is the standard size for the kitchen pail provided by the City of Cupertino. Look for the BPI logo when shopping for compostable bags.

Paper liners can be made from newspaper, paper towels, or other household paper. Check out this 30-second video to see how to fold a pail liner from newspaper.

Food Scraps

• Bread, grains and pasta
• Coffee grounds (and filters)
• Dairy
• Eggshells
• Fish and shellfish
• Fruit, including pits
• Meat, including bones
• Poultry
• Vegetables

Yard Trimmings

• Branches and brush
• Flowers and floral trimmings
• Grasses and weeds
• Leaves and tree trimmings

Soiled Paper Products

• Coffee filters
• Milk Cartons
• Paper cups (including disposable paper coffee cups) and plates
• Paper ice cream containers
• Paper bags, napkins and towels
• Paper take-out boxes and containers
• Paper tea bags
• Pizza Boxes
• Waxed cardboard and paper

Search specific items at recyclestuff.org or Recology’s WhatBin Tool.

Planning

Meal planning is one of the best ways to prevent food waste. Some people like to dedicate a shelf or section of the refrigerator for perishable food or things they need to eat first.

Having a party? Use a online tool to calculate how many servings to prepare.

Read more about food planning here.

Reuse tips/recipes

Get creative with these recipes to reduce food waste sent to the landfill.

Find more ideas here.

Food storage tips

Proper food storage extends the life of your food. More time for you to eat the food means a lower chance of the food going to waste. Explore the best way to store the specific food in your kitchen at Savethefood.com/storage.

Did you know that you can revive wilted carrots and lettuce, re-crisp stale chips, and save the overly salted meal? Check out these 5-ways to revive food before tossing it out.

Understanding Common Date Labeling Phrases

There is no uniform food dating system in the United States. As a result, there are a wide variety of phrases and dates used on labels with a variety of meanings.

Examples of commonly used phrases:

• A "Best if Used By/Before" date indicates when a product is guaranteed by the producer to be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
• A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date.
• A "Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date except in the case of Infant formula.
• A "Freeze-By" date indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

Data Source: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/food-product-dating

Need a Way to Store Your Food Scraps?

Request a kitchen pail by filling out the form below.

This kitchen scrap container is designed to sit on your counter or go under your sink to make it easy to collect your food scraps and soiled paper when cooking. It is about 2.5 gallons, 12 inches wide, 12 inches tall, and 8 inches deep.

COVID-19 Response: Please note there is a delay in delivery of the kitchen scrap containers. Your container may take 3-6 weeks to arrive.

If you have questions or want to check the status of your order, please email environmental@cupertino.org.

This is a commonly confused item! Bioplastics are plastics made from organic materials such as corn starch and often contain polylactic acid (PLA). PLA has similar properties to PET and looks like ordinary plastic. This can break down in certain facilities but not in the composting facilities near us. The closest industrial composting facility that accepts corn starch PLA bioplastics is in Los Angeles. Any fiber-based foodware is generally okay. The rule of thumb is if it looks like plastic and has a compostable label, it should go in the trash. If it looks like it is made from paper, wood, or bamboo, it can go in the compost.

BPI-certified compostable bags are the exception as they are allowed by our compost processor to help collect food scraps.

The ASTM D6400 or D6868 standard that BPI- and CDM-compostable products have is outdated. The standard was set in the 1990s, and they do not align with the reality of what many compost facilities require. The ASTM D6400 or D6868 certification requires that the material breaks down 90% within 90-180 days, whereas Recology's compost facilities have a 60-90 day breakdown period. At Recology facilities, these type of materials may break down a bit, but not all the way.

Recology's compost facility is striving to gain an OMRI certification, which does not allow bioplastics in the final product. The certification guarantees clean products for organic farmers, agricultural feedstocks, and other end users. Essentially, a cleaner product will have an impact on the health of the community, as we eventually consume the food that used the compost that we produced.

Recology collects all organic waste from residents and takes it to their transfer station facility in San Jose, where it is consolidated into a larger truck and taken to South Valley Organics in Gilroy, CA. Food scraps and yard waste are processed together to create compost.

BPI-certified compostable bag liners can be found at most grocery stores, hardware stores, big box stores like Target, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and online stores such as Amazon. Here is an example of a BPI Certified pail liner that fits the kitchen containers offered by the City.

If you are in a single family home and do not have a green cart, contact Recology to request one. If you live in an apartment building, start with your property manager to request service. A Waste Zero Specialist may work with the property manager to assess the right level of service for the property. Recology can be reached at: RecologySouthBay@Recology.com or 408.725.4020.

Food waste that decomposes in a compost process is in an aerobic environment. This allows the food waste to break down and not release methane or carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (unlike rotting in the landfill). Check out more data about the impacts of food waste diversion as it relates to our greenhouse gas emissions on our climate action page.

The kitchen “garbage” disposal is intended for liquid wastes and small bits of food residue from dish washing. Food often contains fats, oils and grease that are the cause of many residential sanitary sewer backups.

Contact Recology for questions about collection service or carts. The City of Cupertino Environmental Programs team is here to help with any questions about sorting or waste prevention.

Southbaywastezero@recology.com or call 408.725.4020

Environmental@cupertino.gov or call 408.777.3236