Time To Dust Off Your Big Green Cart | Environment

The City of Spokane will resume curbside yard and food waste pickup next Monday, Feb. 27th.

Food waste, you ask?  Why, yes.  The city actually started accepting food leftovers and food-soiled paper last summer, but in case you forgot the details, here's the lowdown: Along with grass clippings, pine needles, branches, and other yard goodies, you can also toss the following kitchen scraps into your big green cart:

• Meat, poultry, fish, etc.
• Fruits and veggies
• Breads and grains
• Coffee grounds and tea bags
• Pizza Boxes, paper towels, napkins, paper plates, cups, and paper grocery bags

The cost of curbside yard and food waste collection is $14 a month, and you're not charged when the service is suspended during the winter. The city contracts with a local business, Barr-Tech, to create compost from some of the recycled material. Turns out, it's cheaper to contract it out to them instead of using city services. Barr-Tech then sells their compost product to landscaping supply companies.

If you're interested, call Spokane's yard waste hotline at 625-7965 or enroll online at www.spokanecitysolidwaste.org.