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Beaverton Composts!
Beaverton residents with yard debris collection service can add food scraps to their yard debris roll cart - now called a composting roll cart. Composting food scraps with yard debris creates nutrient-rich fertilizer and reduces our impact on the environment.
Please refer to the following lists of acceptable food and yard debris.
Compost Instructions
- Yard debris and food scraps can be put into your composting roll cart together.
- Materials are picked up on your normal weekly service day.
- Be careful not to pack it tightly - contents must fall freely from your roll cart.
Three easy steps
- Place your kitchen compost pail in a convenient location in your kitchen.
- Include the food! Toss all food scraps and plate scrapings into your kitchen pail.
- Empty your kitchen pail into your food and yard debris (composting) roll cart. Place your roll cart at the curb for normal pick up.
Yes! Put These Items Into Your Composting Cart
Include the food with your yard debris (leaves, flowers, grass clippings, weeds and plant trimmings)
All Food:
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish and shellfish
- Bones
- Eggs and eggshells
- Cheese and dairy products
- Bread and baked goods
- Pasta
- Rice and other grains
- Beans, nuts and seeds
- Vegetables
- Fruit (including peels and cores)
- Table scraps and plate scrapings
- Spoiled food
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Tea bags
- Paper napkins and towels
- Pizza delivery boxes
No! Leave These Items out of Your Composting Cart
- Plastic bags
- Non-approved compostable bags
- Compostable containers and utensils
- Paper or plastic plates, cups and cartons
- Fast food wrappers (waxed paper)
- Takeout containers
- Large amounts of grease or oil
- Pet waste and cat litter
- Diapers
Yard Debris
The general rule is if it grew in your yard it's probably okay to put into your yard debris/composting cart. Please see the table below for a list of yes/no materials.
Remember, never place plastic bags into your yard debris carts. Plastics do not decompose and will contaminate the compost.
Yes, These items are accepted | No, Do not include |
---|---|
Branches (no greater than 4" in diameter and 36" long) | Animal waste |
Garden waste | Ashes |
Grass clippings | Dirt |
Leaves | Household garbage |
Prunings (no greater than 4" in diameter and 36" long) | Lumber |
Weeds | Metal |
Food scraps | Plastic |
Rocks | |
Sod | |
Stumps |
Maximum Weights
- 30-gallon kraft bag: 40 pounds
- 32-gallon can: 60 pounds
- 60-gallon roll cart: 100 pounds
- 90-gallon roll cart: 145 pounds
Additional Resources
- Where will the composting roll-cart contents go?
- What about apartments and condos?
- What will it cost?
- What is allowed in the composting roll-cart?
- What cannot go into my composting cart?
- What about “compostable” plastics like cups, plates and utensils?
- Can I use compostable liners for my kitchen pail?
- Can I use a plastic bag to line my kitchen pail?
- Where can I store my kitchen food scraps?
- Am I required to participate?
- How often will materials be collected?
- How can I control odors in my cart?
- My cart isn’t full – should I still set it out at the curb?
- What are some suggestions for collecting and storing food scraps?
- Won’t food waste collection make a mess and attract pests?
- What if I already compost in my backyard?
- How much yard debris and food scraps are generated in Beaverton?
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