Bend trash haulers test expanded food waste pickup

(Updated: More details from company president)

The Bend area’s two garbage-hauling franchises, Bend Garbage & Recycling and Cascade Disposal, said Wednesday they will soon introduce a residential food waste pilot program in some areas of Bend, expanding the type of foods they accept for curbside collection.

And if the pilot program proves successful, more Deschutes County residents could eventually throw meat and cheese scraps in the same yard debris bin as lawn clippings.

Brad Bailey, the president of Bend Garbage and Recycling, said the program would help keep compostable items out of the landfill.

“It composts just like the green waste compost, and actually has a little more nitrogen value and makes the compost a little more nitrogen-rich than just the yard debris alone,” Bailey said.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 5, both companies will roll out a pilot program in certain areas of Bend to collect all food waste curbside from residents identified to take part in the program.

Designated yard debris customers within the city limits of Bend will be notified by Bend Garbage & Recycling and Cascade Disposal about the program.

About 300 customers from each company will take part in the pilot program, which won’t cost any more than the $4.90 per month yard debris service.

Participating households can add all food scraps directly into their yard debris carts, along with their yard trimmings. The yard debris and food scraps will be processed into nutrient-rich compost by Deschutes Recycling.

“You can use it anywhere,” Bailey said. “You can use it your garden to grow food, or you can use it on your lawn to top dress your lawn, or just in your flower bed. But it’s make a good circle, because the food waste you’ve grown is now going to be able to return back to the soils.”

“Anyone with yard debris subscription service who lives in the pilot areas can participate,” he added. “Under the pilot program, nearly every type of food scrap will be accepted, including meat, dairy, produce and bakery.”

Customers participating in the pilot program will receive a two-gallon kitchen pail to store food scraps, which can then be emptied into yard debris carts for collection. There will be no changes to the customers’ normal yard debris collection schedule. They will also receive an outline of what materials can and can’t be included.

Erwin Swetnam, Cascade Disposal’s district manager, said,”We’ve been accepting raw fruit and vegetable scraps in the yard debris program for several years. The pilot program will build on the success of our existing yard debris and vegetative waste program and now accept all food scraps.”

“We are excited to offer another opportunity for our customers to divert their waste and help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the landfill,” he added.

Materials that cannot go in the cart include plastic bags of any kind, produce stickers, plastic containers, packaging, compostable plastics, foodware, paper, metals or garbage.

For more information about recycling in your area, visit bendgarbage.com or cascadedisposal.com.